NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT GAZETTE

EXTRAORDINARY.

PROVINCE OF NEW ULSTER.

Published by Authority.

All Public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official Signature thereunto annexed, are to be considered as Official Communications made to those Persons to whom they may relate.

By His Excellency’s Command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR, Colonial Secretary.

Vol. I. AUCKLAND, MONDAY, NOV. 20, 1848. No. 29.

Civil Secretary’s Office,
Auckland, Nov. 20, 1848.

HIS Excellency the Governor-in-Chief has been pleased to direct the publication of the following despatch, from Lieutenant-Governor EYRE, for general information.

By His Excellency’s command,
C. A. DILLON,
Civil Secretary.

No. 105.
(Separate.)

Government House,
Wellington, October 29, 1848.

SIR,

My despatches, No. 103, of the 19th Oct., and No. 104, of the 21st Oct., will have put your Excellency in possession of information, connected with the occurrence of the earthquake, up to the date of the latter of those communications. I now proceed to carry on the narration up to the present time.

From the 21st October, to the 24th, tremblings of the earth, and slight shocks occurred at intervals, but as these occasioned no damage, and their intensity appeared to be lessening, public confidence revived a good deal, and persons began to follow their ordinary occupations; but at about 2, p. m., on the 24th, another sudden and very violent shock took place, renewing the terror and the apprehension of the inhabitants, although it caused little additional damage, beyond some further breakages of glass, or other fragile articles, in the houses.

From the 24th, up to the present time, tremblings of the earth, and slighter shocks have frequently been experienced, but the character of the motion caused by the shocks, seems changed, not only is there less of a vertical motion, but it appears to be caused by a force acting at a greater distance than formerly, in fact, the shocks now experienced, seem to be little more than the continuation along the earth’s surface, of a vibration produced by a heavy distant concussion, preceded by a loud rumbling-noise, much more distinctly heard, and more in advance of the shocks than was the case, during the earlier and heavier shocks.

Such being the case, I am happy to say, public confidence is rapidly reviving, and much activity prevails in clearing away the fallen buildings, and putting up new ones of wood.

I have had a list made shewing the buildings principally damaged or destroyed, and now transmit to your Excellency a copy. The wooden buildings have, I believe without exception stood well, sustaining no further damage than the loss of the chimneys, and fortunately by far the majority of the buildings in the settlement were of wood, so that notwithstanding the many dwellings destroyed and the immense loss of property yet the population are all under comfortable and secure shelter, and such property as could be saved is in security and out of the weather.

In my Despatch No. 103 19th October, written on the day of the occurrence of the most violent and destructive shock experienced during the whole earthquake, I described the panic which existed among the inhabitants, and the strong disposition to quit the colony which