SEVERE EARTHQUAKE

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3940, 9 May 1929, Page 2

SEVERE EARTHQUAKE

* LITTLE DAMAGE DONE LOCALLY. The earthquake which aroused local, residents at 3.45 a.m. yesterday was the severest that has been felt locally for many years. The shake appeared to run from east to west and was preceded by a loud rumbling. The tremor lasted a considerable time and after reaching- considerable severity gradually subsided, to be followed three quarters of an hour later by another slight shake. LOCAL SHOP-KEEPER'S LUCKY. Local shop-keepers were lucky, very little damage being done in the premises in Main Street. In Mr. Garbctt’s store one bottle of sauce was smashed while a few lamp glasses clashed to the floor in Mr. Aitchison’s shop. Mr Aifchison was fortunate that he did not have his plate glass window smashed as a stack of tinned fruit crashed down missing the window by a fraction of an inch. The Colosseum store escaped without any loss. In Mr. D. Ball’s shop a few articles were found strewn about the floor but here again,no damage was reported. Windows of shops in Main Street were shaken into a state of disorder but no damage was done lo plate glass. The Postmaster (Mr. J. Newton) reported yesterday that a number ol breaks in private-telephone lines bad occurred while it was impossible to get through to Palmerston North owing to the stretching or breaking of the lines between Foxlon and Palmerston North. •Some fear was entertained by local residents as to the safety of the borough water tower during the quake but this stood the test very well. The waterworks foreman (Mr \Y. Neville) carried out an inspection of the tower and water mains yesterday but failed to find anything amiss. In conversation with our representative he stated that it was a good job the tower was tilled to capacity at the time of the shake as had it 'been half empty the swishing of the water in 'it plight have had a very detrimental effect.

On the whole the borough escaped remarkably well, considering the violence of the shake. The chimneys have suffered the most, as might be expected. In various parts of the borough chimney tops crashed down during the shako while oth ers took on dangerous leans. There will be ample work for the bricklayers in Foxton for some time as many chimneys will have to be reconstructed. It was impossible to light a lire in a. number of local lioines yesterday morning until obstructions of bricks, etc., had been cleared out of the chimneys.