EARTHQUAKE AT FIJI.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3317, 22 October 1919, Page 5

EARTHQUAKE AT FIJI.

‘R.-XBI ISLAND ’QUAiKE. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. - SUVA, Oct. 10. News arrived here to-day of an earth? quake on the island of Rabi, which lies opposite the eastern end of Vanna Levu. The islandis owned ‘by Levers Plantations Ltd. and used as a eocoanut plantation, producing very fille copra. A On Friday night last (October 3), at 10.30, the residents were awakened by heavy bombing peels like thunder, and the next minute the three Eul"of)ean houses began to rock and swing at an alarming rate. All furniture was thrown down and everything breakable was broken. "One resident said that when he ran outside he found the ground heaving and rolling like a ship at sea. The house of the maanager (Mr W. P.VLyons) was considerably damaged. The Indians from the coolie lines near the beach, yelling in fear and calling on their gods, were brought

up to the hill, as a tidal ‘wave was feared. Shocks occurred during the night. At daybreak it was found that there were cracks in the ground everywlrere; one large one near the coolie lines Was, spouting mud and slime. Along the beach "several small geySers were spouting mud, one being two feet wide at the mouth_

The company have two large modern driers for drying copra, and one of them was set on fire by the ’qual<re, and was burned to the ground. Fortunately the second drier was saved.

Shocks severe at times Were felt on Saturday and Monday. On Monday morning a svurvy round the island wasmade by launch, and it was found that a large slice of Mount Dawson, the highest peak in the island, had been tossed or torn off_ Rocky faces everywhere -had been split and great masses of rock larger than a house were found in the flats, where‘ they had been flung ‘from neighbouring ~hills, leaving lanes, of smashed and crushed trees in their track. The losses will be fairly heavy both to the property and to dwellings affected. The piles and posts of some of the latter were torn ou‘t.—>-Auckland Star. A