Hector.—On Earthquakes and Wave Phenomena. lc 
a.m. it fell equally fast, and was at its lowest point at 10.35. Again at 11.15 
the water came in with a great rush, carrying away a small jetty and some 
garden fencing which was about four feet above high watermark. At 11.50 
it retired to its lowest point. Advancing again, it came in with greater force 
than any of the previous waves, carrying away a boat house, more garden 
fencing, and 40,000 feet of timber stacked five feet above highest high water- 
mark. At 12.5 the water retired once more. At 12.40 the water having 
risen seven feet above the ordinary high watermark, carried aw ay another 
jetty, also the ketch “ Courier,” thirty tons, which was brought back within 
a few feet of her old berth by the next rush at 1.5 p-m. After this the water 
continued to rise and fall at intervals of about three-quarters of an hour, 
each wave getting smaller as the tide retired. 
Port Lyttelton —At 4 a.m. the harbour was observed to be quite dry from 
the wharf to Officer’s Point, and the vessels lying on their sides. In a few 
minutes an immense wave came up the harbour, tearing the vessels from the 
wharves, and breaking their warps and 8-inch hawsers. Much injury was 
done to vessels. Water rose and fell for hours. At 6 a.m. the tide was 
below low watermark, and in a quarter of an hour it was above high water- 
mark. At 9.30 a.m. another roller came in. The water sometimes rose and 
fell three feet in five minutes. 
By other observers: At 11.30 p.m. on Saturday (15th) the water was 
half-flood ; stood at this some time; at 12.30 a.m. on Sunday it rose to the 
usual high watermark; at 1 a.m. it fell back to half-ebb; at 4.30 it was 
half-tide again. After this the water gradually fell back. At 6 a.m. it was 
down to low watermark, making three times high water in six hours. At 
noon it was high water. At 1 p.m. the water dropped suddenly four feet. 
At 2 p.m. the tide rose higher than usual, covering the Reef. The agitation 
is still (6 p.m.) going on. 
Hokitika (West Coast).—No particular disturbances of the tide noticed. 
Kaiapoi.—Four miles from the mouth of the Waimakariri, at 3 a.m., 
two hours after ebb, an immense wave, four feet high, rushed up the river, 
doing much damage to the ships lying at the wharf. First wave at about 
3 a.m., followed by two others at intervals of about fifteen minutes. Up to 
4 o’clock seven in all, but not of such magnitude as the first two or three, 
had rushed up the river. The greatest force of the waves went up the south 
branch of the river, thus saving the town from disastrous consequences. 
Waves continued to come up at intervals during the day. 
Pieton.—Nothing unusual in the tide. 
White’s Bay.—At 10 and 10.20 a.m. sudden recession of the sea about forty 
yards down the beach from the usual tide mark. It rose again suddenly, 
with a heavy swell and surf. High and low tides all the morning alternately. . 
