October 18, 1848 Earthquake: Awatere River, Marlborough, New Zealand

1848, October 19, 05:33 [local time, Oct 18 17:33 UTC]. The largest aftershocks in the first week after the mainshock occurred on October 17 at 1540 Local Time, and on October 19 at 0503 Local Time and were at least magnitude 6. The mainshock occurred during particularly stormy weather with rain and strong winds. The wind abated on October 17 and resumed by October 19 with further gales. The magnitude is reported as being greater than or equal to 6 (Ms). (Reference #5324)

1848, October 19. 05:00 [local time]. The earthquakes of the 16th and 17th were only forewarning shocks of the still greater earthquake which occurred on the 19th at 05:00 and caused greater damage than the two preceding earthquakes together. The Te-Aro block was turned into a heap of ruins, although all wooden buildings in Wellington remained standing. Three persons were killed in the city.

In Wanganui, which was only wooden houses, all three shocks were felt but there was no damage. In Nelson the shocks were stronger than on Wanganui, while on the Banks Peninsula they were as strong as in Wanganui. The earthquake was recorded in New Plymouth, was very weak in the province of Hawkes Bay, and in Auckland it wasn't felt at all. The source of the earthquake was apparently located in the valley of the Awatere River where, possibly, movement along surface fractures occurred for a distance of about 110 km. M=7-7.5. (Reference #415).