THE GEOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
22 !) 
Zealand was again visited with the most severe earthquakes 
which have occurred since it has been known to us. The native 
church at Wanganui was thrown down, as well as the chimneys 
took place; every building was rocked to and fro in a fearful manner, and, 
with the exception of the wooden dwellings, most of the houses and stores 
were seriously shattered or fell in. The whole population were in the utmost 
consternation and alarm, and the destruction of property was immense ; but 
most providentially, up to the present time, no further loss of life has ensued. 
Numbers of persons are, however, ruined; many left houseless and home¬ 
less, excepting such temporary shelter as can be afforded by the new church, 
Te Aro, by Government House (where the hospital patients and some others 
are taken in), and by the wooden buildings of their friends. 
Many persons are afraid of remaining in any of the houses at night, and 
retire to the bush, among the hills, in the hope of being more secure, notwith¬ 
standing the wild and inclement weather by which the earthquake has been 
accompanied. 
A blow has been struck at the prosperity, almost at the very existence, of 
the settlement, from which it will not readily recover. Terror and dismay 
reign everywhere: for the last four days no business of any kind has been trans¬ 
acted. The energies of all seemed paralysed, and during that period no one 
has been able to feel for a moment that even life itself is secure. 
As I now write, too, (eleven p.m., 19th October,) incessant and alarming 
tremblings of the earth are experienced; what may be the eventual result, or 
when this dreadful state of suspense and anxiety may be terminated, God alone 
can tell; but everyone seems to feel a presentiment that it will end in some 
more fearful catastrophe than any which has yet taken place. 
The sad ravages which have ah’eady occurred, and the terror which so 
frightful a visitation naturally produces in most men’s minds, will, I apprehend, 
drive from the colony all who can find means to get away. The few ships 
now in port, waiting for moderate weather to sail, are crowded to excess with 
colonists abandoning the country,* and numbers are unable to obtain passages. 
Under this awful visitation, I deemed it my duty at once to summon my 
Executive Council, and, with their approval, to proclaim a day of public and 
solemn fast, prayer, and humiliation, in order that supplication may be offered 
up to Almighty God to avert the recurrence of any similar visitation, and 
Friday, the ‘20th of October, was appointed for this purpose. 
I will not fail to communicate to your Excellency such further information 
and reports as it may be in my power from time to time to render. 
I have the honor to be, Sir, 
Your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servant, 
(Signed) E. Evue. 
His Excellency the Governor-in-Ckief. 
* A large vessel was filled with these poor timid creatures, who, when they were in fancied 
security on board, regained sufficient courage to get up a dance to the sound of the violin, 
kindly expressing their wish, that now they were out of the place, it might go to the-; the 
impious wish was scarcely expressed before the ship missed stays, drifted on the rocks, and was 
lost and these nerveless runaways were glad to return to their abandoned homes. 
