THE EARTHQUAKE

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1102, 19 November 1901, Page 2

THE EARTHQUAKE

SPECIAL ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER. (HY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION). Chbistchdrcu, Last Night. Truth’s special reporter at Cheviot telegraphed this morning: ‘ After another night of shakes and tremors daylight found Cheviot more demoralised than ever, hub otherwise much in the same condition as last night.

All the long night haggard women kept watch from gardens and backyards, and every succeeding shock added to their fears. Several were severe, one or two quite as much so as the original shock in Christchurch. Rumbling noises preceded them, and now the nervous people are so shattered that every loud sound startles them almost out of their wits.

This morning there is a general exodus of women and children to Christchurch, AVnipara and other places, The stilin has been to much for most of them, and many are hysteiioal. Undoubtedly McKenzie is not a desirable residence at present. The shocks continue, one occurring as I write.

News continues to come in from surrounding districts of devastation and loss.

At & am. a tremendous shock occurred, almost equal to the great shock of Saturday. A panic lias set in, and people ate preparing to leave immediately. One shock was so severe as to throw persons off their feet, but no further damage is reported. All possible has been accomplished by the original upheave). Everything that can be thrown over is already on the ground, and, beyond shaking the people and further destroying the nerves, no disister is recorded. Newss come that the great Bluff' at the Port has been further denuded of millions of tons of earth.

Some painful scenes have occurred here, hysterical wives refusing to leave their husbands, who must stay to straighten out the tangled and damaged homes,

The people are leaving hy every availble conveyance. < Closed for repairs ’ is the state of the settlement to-day. It will be weeks before some shops can resume business.

Amongst the damaged premises enumerated yesterday is the grocery store of T. H. Beni), the contents cf which are inextricably mixed and greatly damaged. The blacksmith shops and carriage works are also in a state ef extraordinary confusion, An engine is turned round, forges destroyed, gear and machinery a tangled mass of iron work. Every few minutes smaller shocks aud earth tremors are occurring, intermingled with more severe convulsions. The position is becoming alarming, as there is no apparent diminution in the number or decrease iu the intensity of the spasmodic shakes we have been experiencing since the initial disaster ; on the contrary the shocas to-day were more intense and frequent than those of yesterday. It is impossible to leave anything in ■the shape of glass or crockery ware on the table or shelf ; it would be thrown down in a few minutes. Fresh cracks aud fissures are continually opening up in the ground, and accounts are coming iu of ruined homes. Some dwellings have been unroofed, aud Mr Butts’ house is split in two. Settlers from Waiau report that cracks opened up two feet wide in the paddocks, and were full of water. The river presented a strange spectacle on Saturday. As the shock was progressing a great crack opened iu its bed, into which the water poured. Presently the crack closed suddenly, and shot a volume of water a hundred feet in the air.

TWO MORE SHOCKS. RELIEF MEASURES TO BE INSTITUTED. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, This Day. The Cheviot postmaster reported last evening that there were two more severs shocks. The people are in a state of great depression, and have again taken to the tents. The Cabinet has requested the Minister tor Public Works, who is in Christchurch, to proceed to Cheviot and investigate the position. Action is to be taken ou his report, and it is probable that extensive relief measures will at once be instituted.