THE NEW GUINEA EARTHQUAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1916, Page 8

THE NEW GUINEA EARTHQUAKE.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. Officers of the . steamer Marsina, which arrived in Sydney last week from Rabaul, were able to supply further details of the earthquake which occurred in the neighborhood of New Britain on New Year's Day. The Marsina was alongside a jetty at Rabaul when the disturbance occurred, about 11.30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Those aboard were startled by a severe Dump, and the vessel tossed as if she was "full speed'' ahead in a gale at sea. A tremendous sea sprang up, and at times the ship was raised 10ft above the wharf, and dropped 20ft below the wharf, and ceded. The wharf was swaying the whole time, and its destruction seemed imminent. Fortunately, it withstood the strain, and the Marsina was icept from breaking away. On land the damage was severe. Two mission houses and two dwellings were thrown to the ground, and the furniture in all the houses suffered badly. A causeway between the island of Matnpi and the mainland of New Britain, which was originally 10 feet out of the water, is now 20 feet submerged. At Toma there were numerous landslides, and houses were thrown down. On leaving Rabaul the Marsina ran in a heavy sea, but she reached Woodlark Island in safety, 'there news was received that I very bad tremors of the earthquake had been felt.