HIGH SEAS NOT FROM TIDAL WAVE

Chronicle (Levin), 10 April 1946, Page 2

HIGH SEAS NOT FROM TIDAL WAVE

-Press Association

cyclone the cause

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, April S. The large seas, wliicli broke along the West Coast from Cook Strait northward were also repoitecl at Nelson early on Sunday moruing and were not caused by the lidal wave, according to an expert opinion iu Wellington today. The breakers, which pounded the coast with some force, were not in any vvay connected with the recent seismological ujiheavals in the North Pacilic. Any tidal wave from that sourte, it was stated at the Geological Burvey Department, would be measured in inclies rather than feet by the time it got to New Zealand. The ' eft'ect would have been to prolong the high tide or to create a high tide when tlie tide ought to have been low. A tidaf wave would, in fact, have eonsisted of the rise of the tide lasting perhaps an hour or more. Apparently no trace was observed of this eft'ect in New Zealand, thougli, at Bvdney, the Pacilic tidal wave was reported to have been observed. It was three inches high and lasted about two liours. Two of these wavos were noted at fSydnev, spaced 15 miles apart. There was no destructive effect. The meteoroiog'ical officc expressed the view that the large seas, which lashed the coast beachos in the calni weather, wero caused by a cyclone passing 200 miles west of tlie coast thoiigh there was no wind eariy on iSunday along the coast. The cyclone

was reported to the nieteorologioal office to have its centre only 200 miles oft'shore. Waves produced by the cyclone wrould travel at about 40 miles an hour. The authorities expected it would arrive on the c'oast live or six hours later. As the cyclone inoved south ward "series of uiounting rough seas would result all along the coast for a day or so. The eft'ect was startling and eerie because along Wellington 's coasts waves and wind are associated almost avithout exceptiou. Buudav's rough seas were, therefo.re, abnormal. Residents of the aftected localities with experience of hurricane areas described the eft'ect as typical of weather produced when a tropical disturbance has pass'ed close to the coast, Out did not actually liit the coast. The sky becomes overcast and there are sudden warni showers and the niounling roar of the seas can be heard for miles.' FrequentJy this occurs in calui air. Burf bathcrs at the various bavs and bcn.ches along the coast took full advantage of the unusual conditions. At oue moment a bather would be up to his armpits in water. Then when the wave receded he would be ieft fully 51) feet from Ihe water.