THE EARTHQUAKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 86, 28 June 1881, Page 2

THE EARTHQUAKE.

GREAT DAMAGE IN MANAWa^U.

At 5.19 a.m. on Sunday morning last, June 26, the people of Foxton and Manawatu generally were awakened from their slumbers by an earthquake of terrible violence. The direction appeared to be from south-west to north-east, and the motion was not of that undulating character which usually characterises shocks in New Zealand, but was as if the earth were being violently rattled and shaken at a rapid rate. The sensation was most alarming, and, — along with the rattling of windows and doors, the crash oL chimneys as Uiey fell on to the corrugated iron roofs or into the rooms, and the clatter of glassware and crockery, but above all the rumbling roar that p receded and accompanied the earthquake, — . formed a brief time of horror such as few would care to experience again. It is hardly necessary to say that immediately the earthquake ceased, lights appeared in every house, and the heads of families proceeded to enquire into the extent of the destruction effected. After the big one had ceased, a succession of shocks followed, mostly very Blight ones, and thus, in anxious expectancy, the time was passed till dawn. We should not omit to mention that tlie weather at the time of the principal shock was cold and windy. The barometer was very low during part of Saturday, but about ten o'clock at night, it came on to blow fiercely from the west, the wind lasting for about 12 hours. The common idea of earthquakes occurring in close, murky weather was proved in this, as in many other inst nces, to be without; foundation. As day dawned, it was seen that the destruction had been general. On every hand the chimneys had been shaken down level with the tops of the roofs, some to the ground, whilst all the others (speaking generally) Jud been cracked, and many wrenchedtfound. When it was sum" ciently light toinove about, a number of the citizenfc visited the different parts of the townshinifor the purpose of ascertaining the extent of the damage. It is hardly necessary to state that the different hotels fared very badly, the bars being in such a state as would have rejoiced the heart of Sir William Fox. Decanters, bottles, flasks, &c, which had adorned the shelves the night before, and been full of spirits, wines, &?., lay in a broken, confused miss, only a few bottles being Bayed from the wreck. The stores came off hardly any better, though from what we have been able to ascertain the Ready Money Store fared the worst, while Mr Gray came off the best. An early inspection of the different stores showed the floors bestrewed with bottles of sauce, fruits, crockery ware, glassware, &c, &c. Mr Fitzgerald, chemist, was most unfortunate. He had determinedonlyafew days before on opening a branch business at Fox-, ton, the stockhavingarriyedonSaturdayper steamer. On Saturday ni^ht Mr Fitzgerald started placing his goods on the shelves, and most of them were in position when the earthquake oocurred. Consequently his loss has been heavy, as drugs and chemicals are of course very expensive. He considers £50 a very low estimate to place upon his loss. The railway works have sufferei considerably. The whole of the embankment between the new wharf and thu outting opposite the Rev. Mr Duncan's house has sunk towards the river, in many places as much as two feet The massive goods shed just taken possession of by the Railway Department also sunk with the ground, and yesterday morning upon the levels being taken by Mr Gillies, of the Public Works Department, it was found the west (river) side of the shed had dropped nine inches, and that the line of rails between the shed and the bank were 12 inches below the level. We should explain that the dip of the goods shed is not from side to side but from end to end, only about one-third of the width being affected, though the whole of the west side has gone down. The goods platforms are not in the least affected. Yesterday morning men were engaged hoisting the goods sheds up to the proper level, and a few days will probably see everything in the same condition as it was in before the earthquake occurred. The railway line alon{ the sandy country between Foxton and the Oroua Bridge was twisted about in a singular manner. Mr Dawson, the Foxton stationmaster, proceeded on horseback to inspect it early on Sunday, and found that it had sustained considerable damage, especially about If miles from Foxton, being turned about in a snakelike fashion at that point. The gangers, however, immediately set to work to repair the damage at the worst places, and the down train yesterday was able to reach Foxton, though it had to go at a much 'slower pace than usual, reaching Foxton about three-quarters of an hour late. The trains will probably arrive late for a few days, until the line has been put into a secure state. The earthquake raving occurred shortly after low tide, the steamers Jane Douglas and Tui, which were lying at the wharf, felt the full force of the shock, the water being shallow where they were lying, and the boats consequently touching ground. Tnose on board describe the shock as exceedingly severe. The creaking of the wharf, and the shaking of the vessel combined made, they say, a dreadful noise. Those on board the Jane Douglas thought the Tui had broken loose and was bumping against her. The shock appears to have been felt with considerable violence at both Feilding and Palmerston, as we learn that at those places the chimneys have suffered similarly to Foxton. Mr Hulke received a telegraphic message from his brother at Taranaki, on Sunday afternoon saying no damage had been done in New Plymouth. Great anxiety was felt in Foxton as to the safety of Wellington, owing to the large number of brick buildings there ; and it was therefore with a feeling of relief the Extra issued from this office at 6 o'clock on Sunday was read, announcing that no damage of importance had been done. Later information from the country districts show that many large fissures have been made by the earthquake. Mr Alzdorf informs us that between Motuiti and Opiki, there is a fissure several inches wide, extending for two or three miles. About the centre of this there are evidences of a quantity of sand having bees thrown up, and forming an oval mass about 20 feet in diameter, and 12 inches thick. At this point, however, the fissure has olosed up, and it is therefore impossible to ascertain the appearanoe of the spot whence the sand was thrown. A Mr Gray, who confirms Mr Atzdorf's statement, also inform* us that at Waiatapia a large crack between two and three feet wide was formed. In the Carnarvon distriot the earthquake was felt with great violence. Several large fissures have occurred between Baiuesse and Carnarvon. We are also informed that oa Sunday morning a German living near Bainesse found that during the night his well, which was 6 feet deep before, had become so deep, that the bottom could net be reaohed with a 40-feetline, and he also asserts that when he first went to the well, the water was babbling up. . Mr Blake states thatJho Utftow to the north-west of Foxton, oa Mr Robinson's land, overflowed their banks on all tides i for a oouplo of ohaioi, ia jait tko mud*

manner aajt waajl«aiN&qtit of handbasina, converting the hitherto-tolid ground immediately around -the lakes into quickgands. The land also shows signs o£ having felt the disturbance severely, as there are numerous fissures along the ridges, while what was before a deep drain is now level \*ith the surface. As showing the force of the crhook, it may be mentioned that a heavy strnotnre used in this office, and called the " imposing stone," weighing about a quarter of a ton, was pushed bodily from west to east about 1$ inches at the north-west end, and about 3 inches at the south-west end thus proving that the shock struck it diagonally. The demy press was also thrown about three inches in the same direction. Some "matter" in type lying on the " bulk " was also broken at the side, although it was -lying at a considerable angle. A pianoforte at Mr A. S. Easton's was thrown over, and would have fallen on its face but for being caught in its fall by'" an easy chair. Mr Thynne informs us that at his house a bottle of ink fell from a shelf with such force as to cause the drops to splash up to the ceiling. The top of one of the chimneys at the Bank of Australasia was wrenched bodily round. These facts will indicate to readers at a distance the terrible violence of the earthquake. From Obaki we learn that only one chimney there has been thrown, belonging to Mr. John Harper. No other damage of importance oocurred there. The coach road between Foxton and the beach shows signs of having been considerably disturbed, the sand in many places having bean removed, and there being numerous signs of water having "boiled up" at many points. LATKR. Information has been received that the upper Oroua railway bridge (between Feilding and Palmerston) has oeen twisted, and care is necessary in crossing it; also, that two of the understrutted bridges between Palmerston and Feilding have been damaged. Mr Rotheram arrived per train last night to superintend the repair of the line. He informs us the shock was felt severely at Wanganui, but no one was hurt. The worst effects were between the Rangitikei river and Foxton. Shocks of varying severity occurred almost every hoar throughout Sunday and yesterday. Amongst the sharpest may be mentioned those at 5.40, 6.50, 8.15, and 8.45 on Sunday night, and 1.55 and 10.27 yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon they became perceptibly fewer and lighter, but towards evening they came on again, and between 9 and 10 o'clock several smart ones were felt. The value of the damage at Foxton is estimated at between £1000 and £1500.