Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Wednesday 1 December 1886, page 10


EXTENSIVE EARTHQUAKES IN NEW

SOUTH WALES.

A few minutes before 3 o'clock yesterday morning, several severe shocks of earthquake occurred in various parts of the colony; more particularly at Yass, Junee, Goulburn, and Gundagai. The nearest local point of approach appears to have been Picton, 34 miles S.W. from Sydney. The shock was felt at Orange in the north, and Wagga Wagga southwards. Somewhat more noise than has usually attended New South Wales earthquakes accompanied the tremor, and heavy shakings are spoken of in several cases. Subjoined are further telegraphic particulars :

An interesting record of about 300 distinct colonial earthquake shocks was collated by the late Rev. W. B. Clarke, dating from the year 1839 until the time of his death ; but unfortunately the list has not been made public.

Mr. Russell, F.R.S., the Government Astronomer in-forms us that no systematic record of similar disturbances in New South Wales has been kept. During the past few years, however, the vibrations which have been felt in this colony have chiefly been the results of earthquakes in Tasmania. It would appear from the information which has been acquired in connection with these, that the recurrent shocks have been extending northwards through-out New South Wales. The Sydney Observatory instru-ments yesterday did not record the slightest movement, or earth tremor ; and although they are not especially constructed for the purpose of dealing with symptoms of earthquake, they contain apparatus which would readily indicate any phenomenal disturbance.

The Observatory telegraphic reports yesterday showed that the directions of the wave were as follows :-Gundagai, N.E. to S.W.; Tumut, the same; Goulburn, W. to E. ; Cooma, N. to S. The direction at Bathurst was not stated. It will thus be seen from an inspection of a map of the colony that the tremors appear to have radiated from some point near to Lake George. Mr. Russell is of opinion that the movements were probably the effects of another Tasmanian shock vibrating northwards. It is a rare cir-cumstance for an earthquake to originate in this colony. Last year several minor shocks were felt, but they proved to have been simply extensions from Tasmania.

The first earthquake recorded in Australia is thus de-scribed by Governor Phillip:-"Slight shock of earthquake in the newly formed settlement of Sydney Cove. It did not last more than two or three seconds. It was felt by most people in camp, and by the Governor himself, who heard at the same time a noise to the south, and which he took at first to be the report of guns fired at a distance. The earth teemed with sulphurous odour for some time after."- June 22, 1788.

Earthquakes were also felt in Sydney on January 17, 1800; January 17, 1801 ; February 7, 1801 ; Parramatta, Prospect, and Hawkesbury, May 7, 1804 ; strongly at Richmond, September 24, 1806; Launceston (Tasmania), January 28, 1823 ; Melbourne, August 21, 1841; Windsor, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Macleay River, and Patrick's Plains; October 28, 1842; Wellington (New Zealand), October 16 and 17, 1848; Melbourne, September 17, 1852 ; Christchurch (New Zealand), January 23, 1855 ; Mel-bourne, January 10, 1867; New Zealand, October 19, 1868 ; Bombala, 1869; Braidwood, January 3, 1871 : Goulburn, Yass, Albury, Wagga Wagga, &c., June 8 and 12, 1871 ; Braidwood (severe), June 2, 1872 ; Sydney and other parts, October 18, 1872; Queanbeyan, November 18, 1872 ; Buman (South Australia), January 23, 1873 ; Maryborough, Avoca, &c. (sharp), 1873; Wellington, March 13, 1875 ; Bega and Eden, July, 1875; Warurill (Queensland), November 24, 1875; Port Darwin, Decem-ber 7, 1876; Castlemaine (Victoria) and vicinity, January 21, 1877 ; and Melbourne, June 23, 1877.

[BY TELEGRAPH.]

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

ADELONG, TUESDAY.

A smart shock of earthquake was felt this morning at 56 minutes past 2. It lasted about 30 seconds.

BERRIMA, TUESDAY.

A shock of earthquake was felt here a little after 3 o'clock this morning.

BODALLA, TUESDAY.

A distinct shock of earthquake was felt here this morning

a little before 3.

BATHURST, TUESDAY.

A shock of earthquake was felt this morning at 3 o'clock. It awoke people out of sleep, rattled windows and crockery, and lasted distinctly for several seconds. The vibration was felt in the houses in different parts of the town. It was the sharpest shock felt here for 16 years.

BLAYNEY, TUESDAY.

About 2.45 this morning; a distinct shock of earthquake was felt. Nearly everyone in town experienced it as it shook the beds they were lying on.

BOMBALA, TUESDAY.

A severe shock of earthquake was felt here about 3 o'clock this morning, causing the houses to shake very much. The weather has been fearfully hot during the day. There is no appearance of rain.

BOWRAL, TUESDAY.

A severe shock of earthquake took place here this morn-ing at 3 o'clock. It was distinctly felt in several parts of the district, and many persons were awakened by it. The shock was preceded by a rumbling noise like a train cross-ing the bridge.

The weather is very hot. Haymaking is in full swing.

BRAIDWOOD, TUESDAY.

A very heavy shock of earthquake was felt here this morning at 3 o'clock. It knocked some plaster from the ceiling of one house, and broke a lot of crockery in others. The heat has been very oppressive to-day.

BROUGHTON CREEK, TUESDAY.

A shock of earthquake occurred at 3 o'clock this morn-ing. The post office, E. S. and A. C. Bank, and the Commercial Bank fairly quivered. The shock lasted 30 to 40 seconds, and travelled north to south. After the shock passed a tremulous motion was perceptible.

BURROWA, TUESDAY.

A violent shock of earthquake was experienced here and throughout the district at about 3.30 this morning lasting from fully 15 to 30 seconds. Every house in the town and neighbourhood was disturbed. The shock came from east to west, and at the termination of the movement a tremendous noise, as of an explosion, occurred. There was a vivid flash of lightning during, the evening.

The weather is hot.

CAMDEN, TUESDAY.

A slight shook of earthquake was felt at 2 o'clock this morning. A light shower of rain fell this evening.

CARCOAR, TUESDAY.

A very severe shock of earthquake was felt here, and in various parts of the district, exactly at 3 o'clock this morn-ing. It is reported that in some places the bedsteads and crockery were shaken by the vibration. The shock seemed to travel from the east in a westerly direction, accom-panied by a loud, rumbling sound, lasting 80 seconds.

COOMA, TUESDAY.

A very distinct shock of earthquake was felt here at about 3 a.m., lasting some seconds, shaking houses. The direction was north to south. There was subsequently a very severe storm of hail. The stone is said to have been as much as two feet deep in some places, causing a flood, covering the flats and doing great damage.

COOTAMUNDRA, TUESDAY.

A shock of earthquake occurred here at 3 a.m. It greatly terrified some people. The air was much charged with electricity. The shock lasted about three-quarters of a minute.

COWRA, TUESDAY.

A slight shock of earthquake was felt here this morning about 3 o'clock, and lasted for about a minute, making everything shake and rattle. The weather still continues very warm and dry.

CROOKWELL, TUESDAY.

An unusually severe shock of earthquake was experienced here just at 3 o'clock this morning. The earth shook, the windows and doors rattled, and a rumbling noise as of dis-tant thunder was heard. The whole town was apparently awake. Many persons rushed out into the street. In some dwellings the inmates were thoroughly terrified. The vibration was felt for about one minute, and the wave appeared to travel from north-west towards south-east.

GININDERRA,TUESDAY.

A sharp shock of earthquake was felt at 3 o'clock this

morning accompanied by a heavy rumbling and severe vibration, shaking stone houses. The direction was north to south; duration about 30 seconds.

GOULBURN, TUESDAY. Two exceedingly severe shocks of earthquake were felt here this morning, about 3 o'clock, causing the windows and crockery to rattle, the houses to shake, and beds to oscillate. A number of persons were awakened by the

shock. It was the general topic of conversation this morn-ing. It was the most severe tremor experienced in Goul-burn. The shocks were accompanied by a rumbling sound.

GRENFELL, TUESDAY.

A smart shock of earthquake, followed by a lessor one, was felt here at 3 this morning.

GUNDAGAI, TUESDAY.

A very severe shock of earthquake was felt here exactly at 3 o'clock this morning, which lasted about 10 or 12 seconds, though some say nearly half a minute. The sound seemed to come from the east, and resembled a strong wind. It could be heard for several seconds before the heavy shock was felt. Numbers of people jumped out of bed quite alarmed; the buildings trembled and creaked so that it was thought they were coming down.

GUNDAROO, TUESDAY.

A severe shock of earthquake, travelling from west to east occurred here at 3 o'clock, this morning. Houses

were shaken.

GUNNING, TUESDAY.

A very severe shock of earthquake was felt here at 3 o'clock this morning. The shock was strong enough to awaken sound sleepers, the sensation being like riding in a

luggage train. The windows and doors in houses made a great noise. The vibration lasted fully one minute.

JUNEE, TUESDAY.

A distinct shock of earthquake occurred here at 3 o'clock this morning. It travelled from east to west, with rush-ing, rumbling, and bumping noises lasting about eight or nine seconds. It was felt most in wooden houses. A great electric storm occurred in the direction of Old Junee between sunset and midnight, and appeared to be the maximum of lightning with the minimum of thunder.

JERVIS BAY, TUESDAY.

At severe shock of earthquake was felt at 3.5 a.m., lasting a few seconds.

KIANDRA, TUESDAY.

An earthquake occurred at 3.10 this morning, the tremble from which lasted at least eight or nine seconds, accompanied by a slight noise, as of distant thunder. The ground trembled violently enough to shake anyone out of sleep. The motion seemed to come from the north and proceed in a southerly direction. The weather at the time was slightly cloudy, but fine.

KYAMBA, TUESDAY.

A slight shock of earthquake was experienced early this

morning.

MARULAN, TUESDAY.

A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here at 8 o'clock this morning, travelling from east to west.

MOSS VALE, TUESDAY.

At 3 o'clock this morning the inhabitants of Moss Vale and district were roused by a sudden shock of earthquake. No damage has been done beyond the breaking of lamps and crockery.

The weather now is delightful.

MURRUMBURRAH, TUESDAY.

A severe shock of earthquake occurred at 3 a.m. to-day.

NOWRA, TUESDAY.

A strong shock of earthquake was experienced here, and all over the district at 3 o'clock this morning, lasting about seven seconds.

ORANGE, TUESDAY.

A shock of earthquake was felt here this morning shortly after 3 o'clock.

PENRITH, TUESDAY.

A severe shock of earthquake, lasting some seconds, occurred here this morning at 3 o'clock.

PICTON, TUESDAY.

A slight shock of earthquake occurred at 2.55 this morning, lasting about 7 or 8 seconds.

QUEANBEYAN, TUESDAY.

A severe shock of earthquake was felt at 3.5 a.m., travelling W. to E., and lasting fully a minute.

TARALGA, TUESDAY.

Two sharp shocks of earthquake were felt in this district at 3 o'clock this morning, accompanied with a rumbling like thunder, the motion was from north-west to south-east. The lightning was intermittent, and the sky very

overcast.

TUMUT, TUESDAY.

A thunderstorm passed over early this morning, and much rain fell. At a quarter to 3 a strong shock of earth-quake was felt. Numerous residents were alarmed by the shaking of their bedsteads. Brick houses shook violently, the windows rattled, and glassware jingled. A long, rolling, subterranean rumbling was heard. The rain had ceased and the sky was clear when the shock occurred.

WAGGA WAGGA, TUESDAY.

A smart shock of earthquake was felt here at 3 o'clock this morning. It lasted some seconds.

YASS, TUESDAY.

Two distinct shocks of earthquake, following closely on each other, were felt in Yass this morning, about six minutes to 3. The shock passed from west to east, and lasted about 12 seconds. It shook all the houses and cracked the

walls in several, while in many the ceilings fell. The residents got up and lit lamps, people ran out in their night-dresses, furniture und crockery rattled, and pictures fell from the walls. The vibration lasted over two minutes.

YOUNG, TUESDAY.

At 5 minutes to 3 this morning sleepers were suddenly awakened by two violent shocks of earthquake, which set the houses and everything they contained vibrating. The first sensation on awakening was that of heavy laden teams being driven rapidly through the town, added to which windows were rattled, and the furniture displaced. The earthquake, which continued for about 15 or 20 seconds, appeared to travel from south to north, and was most severely felt in the low-lying portions of the town. Al-though occurring when most people were asleep, there is scarcely anyone but was awakened by the shock. The

night was very fine, and almost cloudless.