FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2520, 4 September 1888, Page 2

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

SUPPOSED VOLCANIC ERUPTION. BURSTING OUT OF HOT SPRINGS. GREAT DESTRUCTION OP PROPBRTY. STATION BUILDINGS SHAKEN DOWN. Chmstchukch, Monday. A telegram frnm Waikara on Saturday says—" Earthquake at Waiau and Hanmer Plains was very violent. Several chimneys are down at Waiau, and monuments in the cemetery were thrown down. The vibrations caused the Hanmer Plains Hot Springs to overflow, and large quantities of gas are escaping. A telegram from Culverden says the earthquake at Haniner Plains was something terrible. Mr Atkinson's residence at Woodbank, on the plains, was completely ruined, also great dam age was done at Leslie s Hills, and St. Helen's stations. Glynroye station buildings were completely wracked, and the men are living under canvas. At Waikari shocks were more or less continuous to 7 a.m., and there were intermittent vibrations from 2 to 2.30 p.m.

The last shock felt here was at 10 minutes after' eleven yesterday morning. People were in Church at the time, and great alarm prevailed. The intention to hold Bervice in the Cathedral was abandoned. The Hopefield homestead was wrecked, and the manager and his wife and children have arrived at Culverdeti. The Ferry Hotel, Upper Waiau, was damaged; New Upper Waiau bridge is safe, but there are large landslips in the Hanmer cutting. There is great porturbation at the hot springs, but no damage to the buildings, etc., there. Mrs Low and family, of S. Helen's Station, escaped to Jollie's Pass, after removing the furniture, etc., to the wood shed.

Many shocks of earthquake have been fait to-day.

Professor Hutton, writing to the Press, remarks " The shock was felt over a radius of 300 miles from the centre of the disturbance, and it is remarkable that a shock so widely extended should have done so little damage. This was probably due to the centre of the disturbance lying down in the earth, so that the earth wave at the surface was more vertical than usual."

Slight shocks were felt to-day at 2 and 8. 15 a,m, The Cathedral Chapter voted £5 to Anderson, steeple-keeper, for his bravery m ascending the towef and securing the cross, immediately after the shock. The Hanir.er Plains springs on Saturday were greatly agitated, throwing up quantities of mud and gas. The shocks seemed to come from the West, and continual noise like distant thunder was heard at short intervals on Saturday and Sunday. Some rents in the earth have occurred in several plances on the Hanmer Plains and Upper Waiau. Gas is bubbling up from a number of them, and huge rocks have rolled down the hill sides. Mr Gunn, Rabbit Inspector, walked across Hanmer Plains on Saturday, and says that the wholo plain seemed to be sending up gas, and water is bubbling in many places. He expresses the opinion that if the shocks had been generally all as severe as at Hanmer Plains no stone or brick building could have stood them. He was glad to clear away, and thinks there is great danger of an eruption, if one has not already taken place in the janges towards the West. The Hanmer Plains are still in active motion.

Mr W. A. Low, of St. Helen's Hanmer Plains, states that for three weeks back strange rumbling noises have been heard from the hills at Jollies' Pass, but were not thought much of, as they were put down to wind. That evening these sounds were followed by others more alarming, which nearly resembled the reports of single pieces of musketry fired in rapid succession. These were shortly succeeded by shocks of earthquake, about 10 minutes past 10 in the evening, ever since then the noises gained in force, till on Saturday morning, they were deafening, and continued to be so, till the violent shock which did such damage, followed,

The buildings at Mr Acton Adams' station completely collapsed. The manager and his family have left. Messrs C. and D. Rutherford's property further up the gorge was also destroyed, together with men's huts and a two storey iron building. The manager and men are catnping in tents. The woolshed was shaken to pieces. There are several fissures in the ground, and several hot springs have appeared on the flat at Jollies' Pass.