Gurney said:
Most of the destroyed buildings were designed in the earlier days of settlement, and built using English practice.

My Gr,gr,grandfather and his brothers, the Henwood brothers from Wadebridge, Cornwall were builders in stone and they took their skills to Canterbury in 1856.
Horatio Henwood, the youngest brother, was Clerk of Works for several years and was involved in building the Prison at Addington and other important buildings at that time. He lived in Lyttelton, James was in Christchurch and John Henwood, my 2xgreat grandfather had his family at Kaiapoi. Both James and John helped with some of the buildings, which would have been the best they knew how to make in those days.
I don't think they ever experienced an earthquake - my Mum always said Wellington had earthquakes but not Canterbury.
We lived in Wellington - we always had lots of smallish quakes and our house was a wooden one that would sway uncomfortably, but safely.
No-one expected this. They still can't believe it.
Lots have been pulled out in the last 24 hours, but others have gone quiet.
Too sad.
Robyn