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Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 185, 10 August 1904, Page 2

UNKNOWN

SEVERE EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS IN NORTH ISLAND. DAMAGE IN WELLINGTON AND ELSEWHERE. About 10.22 a.m. yesterduy a proloused shock of earthquake wos felt in Now Plymouth, the direction being from east to west. There was a lengthy tremor before aud after the ( more severe shake, which caused mild consternation umongst occupants ol buildings in town. The tall smoke stack at the Egmont mills swayed considerably. No damage is report- i ed, Telograms show the shock trav- > ersed the whole of the island, and as far south as Christchurch, doing considerable damage to brick chimneys, and in some cases to brick buildings. A Press Association message from Wellington states that the earthquake yesterday morning was considered the most alarming since the great shock of 1855, The two buildings which Buffered most were the Government Insurance olllce and Public Lilmary. Both have shown weakness in former quakes, and from both masses of cornice and pedimont fell yesterday. The main tower of the former is considered unsafe, and the plaster of the interior suffered considerably. The library is closed, and this stake will probably expedite the rebuilding, which has all along seemed likely to be forced on the council. One wall is now fcut of plumb, and the inside littered with debris fallen from the fcool and walls. The Town Hall and other edifices in course of erection stood the ordeal well. Many chimneys were upset, and plaster suffered largely in various cases, but no structural damage soemf to have occurred. The destruction of private property in dwellinghouses, taken together, is- considerable, as numbers oV them have to report losses of breakable articles, and in shops and hotels much damage was done in this way. Messrs Smith and Smith had £BOO worth of plate glass smashed in their warehouse. E. W. Mills and Co., ironmongers, had a nurabor of ranges tin-own down and broken. People generally got a thorough flight, and came streaming up the streets. In some cases, especially among .wouien, workers could not be induced to return to their occupations lor soma time. The water in the harbour was not affected, but vessels quivered a good deal. There were a good many inquiries during the day as to what might havo happened in the Lake country, especially at Wainiong-u, and some relief nnd astonishment were expressed when it was found the shock had scarcely been felt there. A smart shock was felt at Normanby for nearly halt' a minute, at 10.30 a.m. yesterday. Tho direction at first was north and south, then i* altored to east and west. Many .ght the " Rag Fair " had a> ' . Uuo to time.—(Own conw (Per Press Association.) WOODVILLE, August 9. An earthquake shock, accompanied by a terrific report, caused a great panic. Uriels were knocked off chimneys and windows broken, but no serious damage reportril. Plaster has come down in nearly ery upstairs room in the new post office. WELLINGTON, August 9. Tho earthquake was severely I ! nt Tauraiigu, but does not appi-i, to havo bei-n more than slight in the Lako Country. At Waimangu and Rotorua it was merely noticed, but was felt ut Tatipo more sharply. WAIROA, August 4. Earth and trees were visibly rocked during the shock, and »m a ll articles thrown down, but no other damage reported.

PALMERSTON N., August 9. Tho most serious damages here was to the Hon. VI. W. Johnston's mansion on the Highden Estate, Awa. huri, There all chimneys were snapped off short, a window fell right in, and it is feared one side of the building is severely strained. A phenomenon of tho earthquake was its action on the Manawatu River, which near the town was thrown in waves right 'up on to a shingle bank as if a large steamer bad passed up tho river.