EARTHQUAKES IN NEW ZEALAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1315, 16 October 1872, Page 3

EARTHQUAKES IN NEW ZEALAND.

By the meteorological tables lately issued by Dr Bennett, the RegistrarGeneral, and laid before Parliament, we see that during the year 1871 there were 29 earthquakes recorded in the Colony, and of these unwelcome disturbances Wellington is credited with no fewer than 11— nearly one-half of the whole. In a table showing the days upon which these quakes occurred, we find that 3 occurred in the month of January, 1 in March, 1 in June, 1 in August, 1 in September, 1 in October, 2 in November, and 1 in December. So that it would seem the summer months were particularly subject to these visitations. No wonder, therefore, Ministers should seek, during the recess of Parliament, more stable ground upon which to reside and attend to their Eblio duties. In the months of Novemr, December, and January, no fewer s^ thin 6 out of the 11 of these earthquakes . occurred. Solar heat and underground disturbance are evidently twin sisters at Wellington. The other places named in this return are : Taranaki, 1 j Napier, 3 ; Nelson, 2 ; Cbristohurch, 2 ; Bealey (in the Province* of Canterbury), 2; Hokitika, 3 ; Dunedin, 2 ; and Southland, 2.

The circumstance of Wellington being so particularly shaky compared with tho rest of the Colony may be accounted for bj the fact well known, in nautical and scientific circles— that the! town ofyWellington is situated upon the Up of a large volcanic crater at present covered by, the waters of Cook's Strait. 'The Bouridings show there is a large circular basin considerably deeper than the surrounding parts of the Strait, and it is generally believed that it is from this unseen centre that the disturbances proceed. If so, it shows that volcanic action there, though comparatively quiescent for some years past, has not ceased, and the fearful thought cannot be kept from, maV'ng itself felt at times, that a more than usually energetic upheaval may take place as has frequently been experienced in other, earthquake regions. The yearly meteorological returns ahow t that the unctSr-^ ground powers by which it is supported are certainly of a very turbulent character.

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