Wanganui Earthquake 8 December 1897
From: Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute:
The Wanganui Earthquake of 8th December 1897 by George HOGBEN

"The earthquake was the severest felt in the colony since
the Nelson earthquake of the 12th of February 1893, and the
severe effects were more widely felt than in the latter. These
two were more severe than any others since the memorable
earthquake of 23rd January 1855.

Besides the intensity..., the prolonged character of the shocks
is a noteworthy feature.

Auckland
 2.43am
 First a slight tremor; then pause from 1 to 2 minutes; then
 prolonged shock, 20 to 30 seconds. Windows rattled, wooden
 walls creaked; not felt by everybody; shook beds; awoke some
 people. No rumbling heard. ["Two distinct shocks." Auckland
 Star]

Blenheim
 2.42am nearly 1 minute
 Houses creaked; windows shaken; crockery and glasses jingled;
 sleepers disturbed; town clock rung; Shock sudden, rocking like
 jolting in rock; then long tremor and rumbling.

Bulls
 2.42am 50 seconds
 One clock stopped; a little crockery broken.

Cambridge
 2.43am: Woke everyone; no damage

Carterton
 Severe

Christchurch
 2.43am 15-18 seconds
 Distinct prolonged shock.

Gisborne
 2.41am 53 seconds
 Clock stopped; no alarm. No preceding rumble; at first series
 of shocks, strong, gradually dying away.

Greymouth
 2.45 20 seconds
 Doors and windows rattled; sleepers awakened. Some say rumbling
 before and after - not heard by observer.

Hamilton
 2.43am: Many clocks stopped; no damage.

Hawera
 Extraordinary severity; no damage.

Lincoln
 2.43am
 From Mr G. GRAY and Mr Coleridge FARR - a good time observation.

Manaia
 Severe; a few chimneys fell.

Marton
 2.42am 20 seconds
 Felt by everyone. Oscillation of lamps; clocks stopped; some
 movable objects overthrown; plaster cracked in some buildings;
 chimneys fell three or four miles off, but none in Marton. One
 long shock, marked at beginning; gradually increasing, attended
 by rumbling. Liquids one and a half inches below rim overflowed
 vessels. Direction N. of W.

Masterton
 Prolonged and severe; most severe on east coast, where clocks
 stopped, and people alarmed.

Napier
 2.42am, 6-8 seconds
 General awakening of sleepers; stopping of clocks. No rumbling
 during or after shock.

Nelson
 2.43am 20 seconds
 Plaster shaken from ceiling; crockery shaken; sleepers
 awakened; clocks stopped. Rumble immediately before like
 approach of very strong gust of wind. Two shocks. 2 seconds
 between. [The first shock for 1 minute, at 2.40. No damage.
 Press Association]

New Plymouth
 Of exceptional duration.

Opunake
 2.41am, 20 seconds
 Everything on the move; violent oscillation; people awakened;
 feelings of nausea; small ornaments &c thrown off shelves. Long
 and loud rumbling; shock a succession of jerks; after shock loud
 roaring of surf on shore, and heavy gust of wind; peculiar
 hissing sound at conclusion of main shocks, followed by a
 slighter shock.

Pahiatua
 Severe

Patea
 Severe; a few chimneys fell.

Picton
 2.42am about 1 minute
 Two office-clocks stopped. No damage.

Wakapuaka
 2.42am 30 seconds
 Loud rumbling, 12 seconds; first shock, 3 seconds; short interval;
 second shock, 5 seconds; rumble, 8 seconds. General awakening.

Wanganui
 2.42am 1 minute
 First part very heavy, 15 seconds N. to S.; then sharp upheavals
 NW to SE, upsetting movable objects and chimneys; tremors
 gradually subsiding. [Sharpest since 1855; 2.40, lasting 3
 minutes. Damage in crockery shops; chimneys levelled in all
 directions; main water-supply stopped; fissures in ground;
 subsidence of railway for several chains on reclaimed ground;
 house burnt down through upsetting of lamp - Press Association]

 1898 Feb 11 "It has been recently discovered that a piece of
 ground, 20 acres in extent, near East Tokomaru, twelve miles
 north of Wanganui, has been torn and rent in all directions by
 the earthquake which was experienced two months ago. Many of the
 openings are 10ft or 12ft across, and strong fumes of sulphur are
 issuing therefrom." Press Association

Wellington
 2.41am, some seconds
 Several clocks stopped at 2.41 in Wellington Post Office,
 including the tower clock. Very unpleasant rumbling noise
 previous to shock. [Prolonged tremor; violent disturbance, then
 vibrations; doors burst open at General Post Office; bells
 rung - Press Association]

Woodville
 Lasted 45 seconds; severest for years.