A SEVERE SHAKE

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 59

A SEVERE SHAKE

MANY CHIMNEYS THROWN DOWN. WAIROA, June 23. A heavy, prolonged earthquake was expel fenced at 3.7 a.m. to-day, rousing people from sleep and greatly frightening them. Buildings rocked alarmingly for some time; and minor shakes at frequent intervals followed for four hours. No damage is reported. The Nuhaka and Morere districts fared badly, and were evidently the centre of the disturbance. Chimneys and tanks are doyn again in many residences, and there is much damage indoors. Nuhaka stores report considerable losses through breakages. The town and other parts of the district escaped more lightly. GISBORNE, June 23.

One of the most severe earthquakes since the initial shocks in February, and the heaviest since the. one which caused minor damage on May 7, was experienced at Gisborne at. 3 o’clock this morning, but no further damage was reported. Waingate reports'that the shake was the worst yet experienced. No chimney has been left standing in the district, and a number-of windows have been broken, and in some houses the cooking ranges were shifted. Heavy losses in crockery are reported on all stations near Waingate. A .prominent resident estimated that about 80 shakes have been experienced since the big earthquake on February 3, and from 6 o’clock till 7.45 to-night 10 distinct shakes were experienced.