✨ Earthquake Reports and Proclamation
Persons arriving by a vessel leaving Otakou, on Wednesday the 18th, state that no shock had been experienced there up to the time of her sailing. I have no accounts from Wanga-nui or Nelson, but fear the earthquakes must have been felt severely at both. From Queen Charlotte’s sound, an open boat came over in very stormy weather for the purpose of bringing away a party of European Women who were living there, and were alarmed at the convulsion going on. At Porirua the Military Barracks are destroyed, and the troops are living in Warres.
The Natives have no recollection of any earthquakes at all corresponding in either degree or continuance to the one which is now visiting us.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your Excellency’s most obedient,
humble servant,
E. Eyre.
His Excellency,
the Governor-in-Chief.
The following is the Proclamation referred to in Lieutenant-Governor Eyre’s despatch.
PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS it has pleased Almighty God to visit this settlement with a great and grievous calamity, and it is fitting that a public acknowledgment be made of the Divine Power, on whom all the operations of nature and the security of his creatures depend, and that prayers and supplications be offered up to Almighty God to avert the recurrence of any similar visitation:
Now therefore I, Edward John Eyre, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Munster, by and with the advice of my Executive Council, do hereby proclaim and declare that to-morrow, the 20th of October, shall be held as a day of public fast, prayer, and humiliation.
Given under my hand and seal, at Government House, Wellington, this 19th day of October, 1848.
By His Excellency’s command,
E. EYRE,
Alfred Domett,
Colonial Secretary.
Printed by Williamson and Wilson, for the New Zealand Government—Auckland.
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New Ulster Gazette 1848, No 27
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Report on Earthquake in Wellington
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration19 October 1848
Earthquake, Wellington, Calamity, Destruction, Loss of Life, Fast Day, Ships Detention, Specie Shipment
- E. Eyre, Reported on earthquake
- E. Eyre
- Alfred Domett, Colonial Secretary
🏛️ Proclamation of Public Fast Day
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration19 October 1848
Proclamation, Fast Day, Earthquake, Prayer, Humiliation
- Edward John Eyre, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Munster
- E. Eyre
- Alfred Domett, Colonial Secretary