An Earthquake.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 33, 9 February 1914, Page 5

An Earthquake.

VERY SEVERE IN PLACES.

BUT NO SERIOUS DAMAGE. An earthquake shock was felt in Stratford about half-past eleven yesterday morning, the general opinion being that it was the most severe shock felt for some time. The direction was east to west, and the shock consisted of a sharp shake, followed by a number of milder tremors. IX OTHER PLACES. The shock was also felt in -New Plymouth and Waitara. In Wellington it was stated to be very severe, the most severe since 190-1. The tremors lasted fully five seconds, one being particularly violent. The post office clock chimed and stopped, and many other pendulum and electric clocks in various parts of the city stopped. In some business premises the windows were damaged. People were alarmed and left the churches. Persons on the wharves and ships also got a scare, end made, in some cases, record time for terra firma. The wall of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart was cracked, but the congregation remained quiet at the exhortation of the priest. The shock was severe at Palmerston North. With the exception of knocking some bottles off the shelves in a chemist's shop, no damage is reported there. Several people in the churches rushed for the doors.

A lengthy and severe earthquake was the Wanganui report. Alarm was caused in churches, and some people came out of their houses. No damage was reported. A Wellington Press Association message this morning states: Yesterday's quake was • followed by a light shock in the afternoon and another about 7 o'clock this morning. The shock was the severest since 1901.

A Waipawa P.A. wire states that earthquakes were felt at 11.35. a.m. yesterday, and at 7.30 p.m. Blenheim reports a severe shock of earthquake yesterday monfnig at 11.34.

There was a severe and unusually prolonged shock of earthquake yesterday morning at 11.30 (states a Palliatun message), preceded by a loud rumbling, which startled church worshippers. The direction of the shako was from the west.