Earthquake Christchurch 5 Dec 1881
Trans. of the NZ Institute 1890: The Determination of the
Origin of the Earthquake of the 5th December 1881, felt at
Christchurch and other places by George HOGBEN, M.A.

Christchurch 7.37am
  Piece fell off cathedral tower. Chimneys, ceilings damaged,
  bells rung, panes broken, articles thrown off shelves, water
  in open vessels split; Avon stopped flowing for a moment,
  then flowed slightly more quickly. Not so much damage as 1868.
  Several shocks facing E and W stopped, but those facing N and
  S went on.

Lyttelton 7.36am
  s.s. Wakatipu heeled over on to wharf. No damage. Clock at
  time-ball tower stopped at time named. Town-clock bell struck
  several strokes at 7.38; several clocks stopped then.

Rangiora 7.33am
  No damage done. All pendulum clocks, including town-clock,
  stopped at 7.33. One of the sharpest since 1871.

Kaiapoi, Waikuku, Saltwater Creek 7.35am
  No damage of consequence. Some artesians stopped flowing for
  a time.

Cust, Oxford about 7.45
  Unusually heavy. Chimneys moved half inch to two inches. A few,
  badly constructed, overthrown. Bottles off shelves. Nearly all
  clocks stopped.

Prebbleton 7.35am
  "Sharp". School-bell at Lincoln rang. No damage.

Leeston 7.35am
  "Smart". Accompanied with slight rumbling. Some clocks stopped.

Sheffield 7.34am
  Rather sharp. Preceding and succeeding tremors.

Kowai Pass (Springfield) about 7.35am
  "Violent oscillation". Bottles off shelves. "More violent than
  twelve years ago."

Ashburton 7.40am
  The most severe since settlement of district.

Westport 7.34am
  Three distinct shocks; more than ordinary force.

Greymouth 7.33am
  "Heaviest ever experienced". Two sharp and distinct shocks.
  No damage.

Kumara 7.35am
  Two shocks. Second shock was heaviest on the West Coast since
  1868.

Hokitika 7.30am or 7.37am
  Very strong and distinct shock.

Akaroa 7.30am
  Very smart. No damage.

Dunedin
  Seemed to be six shocks in immediate succession.