Clocks and Earthquakes.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 194, 23 August 1901, Page 4

Clocks and Earthquakes.

The following letter appeared in the 'Wanganui Chronicle : Sin, —May I suggest that you give instructions to your staff to note accurately the minute at which any earthquake occurs, and then, please, publish it in some fixed place in the Chronicle ? The staff of a morning newspaper has exceptional opportunities of observing night earthquakes. When we country folk get the paper wo correct our watches accordingly. Thus, with regard to the shock of last Monday my diary says: “ B'o7 a.m., earthquake, mild, lasting 10 seconds.’’ In the Chronicle of Monday, 12th, the time is given as “ 2 o’clock.” In that of Tuesday, loth, the time is given, respectively, by Napier 2 a.in., Wellington 1.57 a.m., and Gisborne 1.58 a.m. Wellington is the most trustworthy, so on receipt of the Chronicle of Tuesday I put my clocks ten minutes hack, as earthquake shocks take quite an inappreciable time to travel 100 mills' or so. With regard to the severity of earthquakes, it is a pity tl o public lias not been taught some definite rule on thosubjopt. This shake on Monday is described thus : Chronicle, Wanganui—- “ Kather sharp”; Napier—“ Severe”; Gisborne—“ Sharp ” ; Alien, Mangamahu ■ —“ Mild”; Wellington—“ More violent ’ than a preceding shock at 1.-10 a.m. It is folly to exaggerate the severity of earthquakes, as there is nqthing that frightens people in the Old Country more than these earth-motions, to which we seldom give a second thought. Several of my own relations objected to coining to New Zealand on account of earthquakes. If a really “ sharp ” or “ severe ” or “ violent ” shock of earthquake were to occur, your fine brick and compo. buildings at W angauui and Wellington would bo treated as all brick buildings were in the really sharp earthquakes of 1855, i.e., left notone brick on another.—l am, etc., Geo. Feed. Allen. Mangamahu, August 14, 1901.