Westport Shaken by Severe 'Quake

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 709, 8 July 1929, Page 1

Westport Shaken by Severe 'Quake

BUILDINGS BUFFETTED PEOPLE RUSH TO STREETS Press Association WESTPORT, Today. The worst earthquake since the big one on June 17 was felt in Westport at 12.15 today. There was no warning rumble, but with dramatic suddenness the buildings received a severe buffeting. People rushed into (the streets and women screamed. The shake, although very violent, lasted only about three seconds. Some crockery and goods in the shops came down, but no serious damage is reported. Small tremors continued for some time after the big shake.

TREK TO SAFETY SEDDONVILLE RESIDENTS HOMELESS FURTHER FLOODS FEARED WESTPORT, Today. During the week-end W’estport experienced several very sharp earthquake shocks, one at 6.5 p.m. on Saturday, which gave the town a severe rocking, another early on Sunday morning, and two more about midnight last niglit. Several minor shakes have been felt this morning. No further damage is reported. Owing to fear of another flood, most of the Seddonville residents are coming into YVestport this afternoon and an effort is being made to get a number of women and children over to Christchurch tomorrow. The effect of the flood is worse than was at first anticipated, and the.whole township is practically destitute. Food and clothing have been sent out, but only about a dozen houses are habitable. Agitation is now on foot in Westport that a careful survey should be made of the Buller and other rivers in the district, in which slips have occurred. Prior to the flood Seddonville was reported to be quite safe, but the devastation wrought there made the people apprehensive as to the stability of the dam in the Matakitaki River. Schools reopened here today. George Petit, aged 82, died at Karamea yesterday as a result of injuries received during the earthquake.

RESTORATION HAMPERED RELIEF FOR SEDDONVILLE WESTPORT, Sunday. Two more severe shocks have been experienced at Westport, one during the night, and the other at 11.45 this 'morning. They were of considerable duration. The day has been very wet, hampering the restoration of chimneys and other work which has been going on seven days a week. Many people are doing their own repairs,, but carpenters, bricklayers and others are fully engaged. The prompt action of the Prime Minister in telegraphing £3OO as a preliminary grant toward relief of distress at Seddonville was much appreciated. Mr, Laurenson. the harbour engineer, has gangs of men at work cleaning out the houses at Seddonville which are in a fearful state, with mud a foot thick and everything inside the houses in a most bedraggled state. Many of the residents are billeted out in other mining townships, and at Westport. A message from Greymouth states that further earthquakes have occurred during the past 24 hours, one about six minutes after 6 o’clock last evening being rather long, and being felt at Hokitika. There was a sharp shock at about 11.45 o'clock this morning, and a lighter one earlier. SHAKE AT HOKITIKA HOKITIKA, Today. A further long earthquake, but not a heavy one, was experienced at Hokitika at two o'clock this morning.