Severe Earthquake in Australia

Manawatu Herald, 13 May 1897, Page 2

Severe Earthquake in Australia-

Adelaile. A severe earthquake was experi enced all over the colony on Monday af rernoon. Tbe shock lasted about 80 seconds. In the city people were wildly alarmed and rushed into the streets. The largest buildings rocked visibly. The shock was most severely felt in the southeastern districts. Port McDonnel reports that the town was considerably damaged. At Mount Gambia many buildings were damaged and buildings thrown down. Undulations of the earth wera visible, and a great panio took place among the people, many ladies fainting in the streets. At Beach Port the Post Office was completely wrecked. It was shaken and split to the foundations, and is unsafe to enter. At the Government Printing Office the ceiling cracked and plaster fell on the workmen, who became so alarmed that in their eagerness to escape they smashed the windows. At some of the public schools the children became scared and ran. A later telegram from Mount Gambia states that the -Wesleyan parsonage was badly damaged, the roof having fallen in. Many buildings sustained large rents in the walls, and the spires and ornamentations of churches were broken. Sydney/. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt at Gunning, Moana aud Wentworth. Melbourne. A large number of towns in the western distriot report an exceedingly severe earthquake yesterday afternoon. The vibration lasted 40 seconds, and caused buildings to rock and crack in an alarming manner and set bells ringing. . The shock was only light in the ..ity, but at the Port it was fairly described as being similar to an explosion of dynamite. —Press As jo ciation.