EARTHQUAKES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1730, 23 April 1906, Page 3

EARTHQUAKES.

SCIENTIFIC THEORIES.

(Pot Prcsj Association.) Perth, April 21. The Government astronomer states tha the seismograph registered two shocks ii oonneolion with tbo San Franoisoo earth quake. The first shook wes reoorded a 9.30 o’clock on Wedoosday eveoirig, or ii: twenty minutes, a'lowing for difference in time, after the shook roaohod its maximum at San Franoisco. Questioned regarding Professor Milno’a theory, ho said tbo theory that the earth does swing a little off its axis was not a new pronouncement, although it bad only reoently been advanoed, Speaking offhand, ho should say the theory was capable of being tested, and for that reason it is rather fortuoate that the International Association, whoso headquarters i are at Berlin, has established an observatory in this State. Dr. Essen, a leading German soiontist, has hern at work sinoe Christmas ondeavoring to find out the reasons for what is technically known as variations of latitude. Ai first sight,, perhaps, this has no connection with earthquakes. It has, however, because variations .of latitude is caused by displacement ill the earth’s'axis, and the • theory reoently advanced that displacement was duo to meteorological oauses, J such as a great ohango in the masses of ioe, and so on, which cause a kink or twbt in the earth’s axis, which, in turn, must oauae the earth 1 a great strain and struggle to got baok. It would, therefore, be extremely interesting to ascertain whether Dr. Essen’s observations showed any sudden change on tbo evening of April 18tb. The theory might be tested in that way. Dr Essod, interviewed, stated that at eight o’clock on Wednesday evening bis teiesoope showed a variation of two seconds, in the aro. This oaused him to oonolude that some disturbance of an extraordinary character had ocourred somewhere. Dr Essen thinks Prosessor Milne must have been mis'epresented, as the theory, stated scientifically, is absurd. Variation of latitude could- he cause 1 by an eaitbquake snoh as that at San Franoisoo. Such an earthquake could not be oaused by variation of latitude or variation of the earth’s axis. Observations similar to that reoorded by his telesoopio hvel On Wednesday evening were’ recorded by a telesoopio level in Berlin observatory in 188£i when the big earthquake ocourred in JapaD. If tbero had been any variation of the earth’s ox b it wfuld have been recorded on his instrument.

Christohuroh, Saturday, Dr. Coderidga Farr, of Christchurch Observatory, in the oourse of.conversation with a reporter, said : "The San Francisco earthquake is not of suoh great dimensions as the Indian shook a few years ego, or of the Qoatemala shook. The fact that that great aod populous city had been struck made it appear as if the actual occurrence was greater than really the case. A report submitted to the British Association for the advancement of science. showed that the Alaskan and Andean regions, which included the scene of the disaster, .jvere ranked fourth in regard to uundbers among the earthquake districts of the world, the Malay Arohipelago, New Guinea, and Polynesia coming first, Papuan second, aud a large portion of Asia between the north of India and the east of Europe third, In the Alaskan district there was exceedingly deep water off the coast, and a high ridge of mountains,

which would tend to bring about a slipping and cause severe shocks.’ 7

SEISMOGRAPH RECORDS. SHOCKS EXTENDING OVER HOUR AND HALF. By telegraph, Pres* A«'n, .Copyright Beoeived 12 39 a.m., April 23. . . Melbourne, April 22. The seismograph at the Observatory was opened to-day. The films inchoated shocks which bad extended over ah boar and half, the first at 11.40 on the night of the 18ih, and the last at 2 on the morniog of the 19tb. The extent cf the shock has not yet been measured by the aßtrohomsr.