MANY CHIMNEYS DOWN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 26, 23 September 1931, Page 3

MANY CHIMNEYS DOWN

Press Association

-"Post" Special Service.

— Copyright.

By Telephone—

OPOTIKI, Tuesday. The earthquake this morning was eakily the wolrst evter experienced here. The first part of the shock lasted for 30 seconds, then came a far worse shock lasting over 15 seconds, and making the people rush into the streets and cattle stampede. The shock was felt severely along the Coast Road. A service car driver this morning says that scarcely a chimney is standing along the whole distance between Houpoto and Opotiki. The country districts adjacent to Opotiki also suffered, chimneys and water tanks being thrown down, and in most houses a quantity of crocltery was broken. Faults in the power lines of the f armers ' occurred and the linesmen were kept busy on repair work. The chief damage done here was in the Farmers' Union Store where hundreds of articles were thrown from the shelves. One plate-glass window had a big piece knocked out and two others were badly strained and cracked. Other stores had a certain amount of goods thrown down and broken. Many chimneys are also down. On the Waioeka Road Mr. D. Lees' house moved 1J inches on the blocks, the doors all being jammed. An elderly lady, Mrs Russell had an unpleasant experienee, a chimney coming through the kitchen roof and smashing the stove. In another house a chimney fell through the roof, the debris falling near a bed occupied by a boy. The total damage is estimated at hundreds of pounds, as many chimneys will have to be completely rebuilt. Information received from the East Coast this morning states that all chimneys at Te Kaha, including that of the school came down. At Maraenui the school chimney collapsed inwards, the bricks falling all over the floor, while at the Houpoto station two chimneys were destoyed. Mr. W. Lowe's house at Otara also suffered, both chimneys being smashed. Toatoa also suffered heavily most of the settlers having "practically all their c^oclcery broken.