EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.

Kumara Times, Issue 3070, 4 September 1886, Page 2

EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.

A shock of earthquake was experienced in this town, at the Teremakau, Diliman’a, ami Stafford, yesterday, at aloot noon. Telegrams state that it was felt through all North Canterbury (at Christchurch, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Ivaiapoi, Rangiora, and Kaikoura), and

Marlborough and Wellington provincial districts, lasting, from varions estimates, from to 8 seconds: the directions N.E. and S.W.

At Greymonth, the Argus reports, “it was preceded by a rumbling noise, which some observers say appeared to come from the smith. After a few seconds’ vibration, the full f.yce 0 f the shock was felt. It rattled the crockery on dressers, window sashes, and the bottles and glasses on counters; and people walking in the itreets who felt no shock saw the houses rock. The strongest shock lasted very few seconds dying aw„y gradually. The duration could not have lasted less than 15 seconds, and might have lasted 25. The direction from which it came seemed to mystify people, some sayino from east to west, some from south to noith, and others a different direction. One observer, however, who happened to be in a good position to feel the vibration, describes the motion as something like that of a dog shaking himself after coming out of water. Very few who were working or walk*ing observed anything, while very few in doors failed to feel the tremor.” At Ahama, it is said to have lasted 12 or 13 seconds. The shock was also felt at Hokitika (time, 12.2 p.m.) and Ross, lasting quite two seconds. Subterranean activity seems to he going on in countries very remote from each other, is yesterday’s cable messages reported them very severe on the pastern shores af the United States—particularly at Charleston (a seaport town of over 50,000 inhabitants) in South Carolina, where fully threefour ths of the town has been destroyed, and sixty persons killed, besides’, probably, a large number seriously wounded—also at the island of Galita, in the Mediterranean. From their prevalence, it would seem that the late prognostications of a German scientist that earthquakes would be very prevalent and severe this month, seem likely to be verified. J