SEVERE EARTHQUAKES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8362, 24 February 1913, Page 7

SEVERE EARTHQUAKES

MUCH DAMAGE AT WESTPORT POST OFFICE AND MANY BUILDINGS SUFFER. TOWNSPEOPLE STARTLED. Press Association. WESTPORT, February 22. Westport experienced two big earthquakes this afternoon, besides a number of smaller tremors, which caused much excitement amongst townspeople and did a great deal of damage to property. The first shock, a. big one, very prolonged, occurred at 12.35 p.m. It was succeeded by a series of minor quakings, and then at 3.7 p.m. came a heavier shock, acoompanied by a loud explosion like the discharge of a cannon. EFFECT IS WIDESPREAD. Tho first was tho most severe, and the most disastrous in the history of Westport. Business places suffered considerable damage, and few houses escaped without something in the nature of crockery, pictures, flower vases, or clocks being broken. Numerous chimneys were also partially destroyed; but the chief damage was done in the business centre. The recently-erected large bnck post and telegraph office got a severe shaking, and is cracked in all directions, Tho southern wing, about a foot from its base, been bodily shifted about half an inch. The metal down-pipe on tho back of this portion of the building was bent by the moving of the building. Inside almost all the gas mantles were destroyed and a good deal of plaster work on the ceilings and walls came down. Tho post and telegraph staff got a great fright, and speedily made their exit on to the road. SOME OF THE DAMAGE. The principal sufferers in the main street are; Hansen and Co., warehousemen, estimated damage £SO. Sinclair, chemist, £4O to £SO. G. H. Gothard, ironmonger, £3O to £4O. McDonagh, grocer, £2O to £3O. Skilton and Jones, grocers, £2O to £3O. G. W. Martin, ironmongers, £25 to £3O. McWilliams, picture framer ana fancy goods store (including large plate glass window), £2O. Shaw, \hotelkeeper, £ls to £2O. J. J. Lawson, boot and shoe depot, £ls to £2O. Dr Dunn, chemist, £lO. R. Mtill.-i.ti, chemist, £lO to £ls. Mr Sinclair describes the scene in his shop as representing a hailstorm of bottles, and he considers he was lucky to get out uninjured. “MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORSE 1” Along the Bnller road a good deal of loose rock and earth came down, impeding the progress of motor and coach services. Considering the severity of tho shock it is rather remarkable that no loss of life occurred. Some of the buildings most have been close on the collapsing stage, and thousands of pounds’ worth of goods on the shop shelves were just hanging in tho balance when the shock, ended. Business people, being generally of the opinion that things might have been very much worse, are taking their losses philosophically. Reports from the country show that the shocks was severely felt there, but the damage appears to bo confined mainly to collapsing chimneys. FURTHER ’QUAKES RECORDED. FOURTEEN ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND YESTERDAY. WESTPORT, February 23. Inquiries around town show that in some houses almost all the crockery and glassware was broken, while others close beside them escaped with but •light damage. The tops of many chimneys were broken off, the bricks in several cases falling down inside the building and doing damage to ranges. Some households suffered the loss. of almost all their season’s jam through tho bottles being thrown violently off tho shelves on to the floor. The shocks were felt in the surrounding districts more or less severely, with accompanying breakages in the houses; but Westport seems to have fared worst. ’Quakes have continued through the night and right up to this afternoon (5 p.m.). In that time there have been about fourteen in number, but of lessening severity. The highest tides for some years are reported at Karamea, and a (party camping on the north beach at Westport were compelled to shift from quarters hitherto considered safe from the encroachment of the sea. . FELT IN OTHER PLACES. ‘ GREYMOUTH, February 22. A severe shook of earthquake at 12.39 this afternoon rang the firobeil. No damage is yet reported. The shock was so sharp that townspeople rushed into the street. REEFTON, February 22. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here at 12.40 to-day. NELSON, February 22. A severe earthquake was felt here at 12.37 this afternoon. A telegram to tho Christchurch “Star” on Saturday stated that an earthquake was recorded at Hanmer shortly after midday on Saturday.