EARTHQUAKE ALARMS WIDE AREA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 657, 8 May 1929, Page 1

EARTHQUAKE ALARMS WIDE AREA

PEOPLE RUSH FROM HOMES Houses Rock: Chimneys Tumble SEVERE EARLY MORNING SHAKES rO earthquake shocks following closely early this morning did damage estimated at several thousands of pounds at Hunterville. Chimneys tumbled down, plate-glass windows fell crashing on the footpaths, and walls and roads cracked in many places. People rushed from their houses into the streets. Weird, uncanny lightning at Feilding added to the terror of the moment. Shocks were felt over a large area stretching south from Taumarunui and from coast to coast, but were mostly of a minor character. Prom the seismological record at Kelburn Observatory, the earthquake shock was comparable in intensity and probably in nature to that which recently occurred at Otira.

(Special to

THE SUN)

jr~ MARTON, To-day. A special message to The Sun states: — The Rangitikel district was shaken early this morning by the worst earthquake in its history. In Hunterville in particular the quake was violent and of long duration, and a state of panic existed. The damage runs into several thousands of pounds. In Marton there was not so much damage, and Bulls also escaped lighter, but Sanson and Halcombe came into the direct line of the shake and fared badly. Strangely enough, Hunterville people declare the quake occurred there at 3.55 a.m.. while in Marton it was at 3.45. In Marton there was another tremor at 4.30. Hunterville’s experience was an unenviable one. The shake was preceded by an ominous rumble, and, when at the peak of its violence, there was a terrigc jolt which brought in its train the sound of falling chimneys. By four o’clock the streets were crowded with peiple, and it was a strange scene that met their eyes. Hardly a shop window was intact. That of Mr. T. G. Taylor, wholesale wine and spirit merchant, crashed on to the street, the display of liquor which the glass was supporting following. One window of Mr. W. E. Steven's draper's shop fell to the street. This was also the case with Mr. E. W. Donovan's pharmacy window. In Mr. Donovan’s mixing-room chaos existed. Broken bottles and a mixture of powders and chemicals being strewn over the floor. The heaviest losers, however, are considered to be Ellis Bros., who, besides suffering th 6 loss of several windows, found this morning that th* brick walls of their establishment were dangerously cracked. It is estimated that the repair work will cost over £I,OOO. In Mr. F. C. Berry’s jewellery shop a quantity of expensive china and other articles have suffered. Mr. W. O’Brien is another heavy loser. A deer's head screwed to the wall of his tea rooms fell and smashed a plate-glass table, and a large amount of crockery has been broken. There is hardly a householder that did not suffer. Few chimneys are intact, those left standing being twisted. COOKING IN BACKYARD At the Presbyterian manse every chimney fell, and the Rev. and Mrs. Mill had to cook this morning’s breakfast in the backyard. Several ominous cracks appear in the road. Both the sets of tablet apparatus were thrown out of order at the Hunterville railway station, and a slight kink was made in the permanent way. Repairs were promptly affected. Several water-pipes were broken snd miniature floods occurred. To-day, iu Hunterville, “things are only middling,’’ as a business man there put it. and the only topic of discussion is this morning’s alarm. The quake in Marton was of sufficient violence to alarm everybody. The damage was not severe, hut the shop windows of Mr. D. Thompson, jeweller, and Messrs. Mogridge and Son, booksellers, are cracked, and several chimneys are damaged. A huge chimney at the brick and tile worlcs, although only recently renovated, bears evidence of having been rudely shaken. It Is badly cracked. Reports of household dishes being xroken are common. Shopkeepers have also suffered in a minor degree.