EARTHQUAKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2557, 20 March 1923, Page 2

EARTHQUAKE.

WELLINGTON BADLY SHAKEN

What is described as the worst earthquake expei'ienced in Wellington for the last twenty years was experienced there on Sunday night. At about 7 p.m. there was a loud explosion, as though a. mine had burst. This was followed by a severe jolt, and then about two seconds later by a pi'onounced swaying motion, which lasted for several seconds. Tall buildings in the city rocked quite perceptibly. There was consternation in the churches, but although some ladies fainted, warnings from the pulpits to keep calm had in most cases the desired effect.

Damage was done both in the residential and business quarters. Several hundredweight of masonry was dislodged from the old police station and a huge plate glass window in the new Maritime Building in Customhouse Quay was hurled into the street. An extraordinary happening was the displacing of part of the carved motto over the Court buildings, “Let Justice be done though the Heavens may fall.” Chimneys are down all over the residential areas and there is much broken plate glass in the suburbs. SEISMOLOGIST’S OPINION. With reference to the earthquake on Friday night, Dr. C. J. Adams, Government Seismologist, interviewed in Wellington, said that from the descriptions given of the shake it seemed as if the earthquake bore a resemblance to the disturbances which occurred at Taupo some time ago. Recently he had had reports from Bulls, and the Raugitikei district, stating that, quite a number of earth shocks had occurred in that district, and these had been characterised by a considerable ainount of vertical motion. From what had been observed, Dr Adams remarked that it certainly looked as if the phenomena which occurred in the Taupo district were working down this way. In any case, there was no need for alarm, because it was probable that the various shocks which had taken place between Taupo and here might have an “easing down” tendency, and thus minimise to a very great extent. the effects of further shocks if they did take place. A message received by the Meteorological Office from Stephen’s Island on Saturday stated that a sharp earthquake was felt on the island at 8.50 o’clock on 1 riday night, apparently travelling in a westerly direction.