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Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1922, Page 4

Professor E. Mar-den. who recently investigated the recent earth disturbances on the spot, and on whose advice the Government acted in authorising the postal officers to leave tile district if the,v wished, stated that it was quite impossible to forecast what would Imppen. There were undoubtedly serious possibilities; and, in view of the danger, ii was not right to keep the people ill the district. He regarded the chances of a blow-up as one in six. Still, what would happen in the next fortnight nobody could say. Japan had over 200 observers, but their forecasts were only approximate; and what could two observers in New Zealand, working without proper instruments, do Y That there was now only two seconds differcme in the time of the shocks at Wuirahei and Tatipo showed that the disturbances were close to the surface. The previous week they were much deejH>r. Professor Mnrsden added that he was now having three instruments made, which, he hoped, would give tlie depth, origin, and direction of the disturbances. Th c latest shocks, though very severe, were purely local, and the cracks which had occurred were to be expected. The Post and Telegraph Department .had been warned to prepare for disarrangement of the telegraph wires, such as had been reported from Rotorua.