EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.

Manawatu Herald, 10 May 1898, Page 3

EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.

DISASTROUS GALES.

In Saturday's issue we published a warning received from Mr C. Wragge of Queensland, in which he predicted stormy weather on the south-west coasfc of this oolony under the influence of the disturbance "A-**."

On Friday, the Seoretary of the General Post Offioe reoeived a tele* gram from Mr Dansey, Postmaster at Rotorua, as follows : —

" A considerable amount of uneasiness if not alarm existed here all last night, occasioned by a succession of sharp earthquake shocks (14) at short intervals, sometimes accompanied by loud rumblings. They commenced at 12.45 and kept up until 4.40 this morning — direction east to west.

"The night waa calm, with a leaden sky and occasional drizzling rain. " The shocks appear to have been purely lccal, not having been felt north or south of us. " From 2.60 to 8.28 the ground was in a continual state of tremor. No damage was done. * •• Some visitors ont short their stay, leaving by this morning's train." mountainous seas along the coast, Up to Friday morning heavy rain, and a gale with the wind blowing at tbe rate of 57 mileß an hour, was experienoed at Sydney. Great damage hag been done and - EIGHT VESSELS WRECKED. The Newcastle and Hunter Eiver Company's Maitland went ashore at North Barranjoey. She is in a bad position, and the Seas are breaking over her. The Maitland left Sydney for Newcastle with 86 passengers on board. The Maitland struck on a rock off Cape Three Points, her engines having broken down off Barranjoey. About SO of tht passengers and orew werrs&ted. After tfc-reugines broke flown she quiokly drifted on to the rocks, breaking in half almost immediately. After several unsuccessful attempts, in whioh the cook and steward were drowned, a line was got ashore, and by this means most of the passengers and crew were saved. As the stewardess (Mis 3 Fitton) was coming along the line it broke, and she was drowned. Six persons, chiefly women, were left on board, but later in the day a seoond line was got out, and these were saved. The following are believed to be drowned : — Chief officer (Mr Thotnp* son), four sailors, two firemen, cook, steward, stewardess, and five steerage lady passengers. The oaptain of the Maitland says that one tremendous sea came aboard flooding the stokehole ahd putting the fires out. Then the vessel drifted hopelessly through the inky blaok night, and just before' dawn came she went on the rocks. There was some confusion among the women for a few*minutes, but on the whole the passengers behaved: commendably. Amongst those landed safely was an infant in arms, a sailor oarrying it on his back.

From a roll-call oi the survivors fully 25 are missing. The bodies of those drowned are now coming ashore,