A MYSTERIOUS ’QUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1923, Page 4

A MYSTERIOUS ’QUAKE

STRANGE KERBCRN RECORD. WELLINGTON, Nov. The registration of an extremely severe earthquako was witnessed at the Kelhnrn Observatory by Dr E. Adams on Saturday morning, when, without the aid -of a seismograph, earth tremors were recorded coming from the direction <d .‘{S decrees, which iequivaiem t.o about LE’SQ nautical miles from Weilinp;!oil. The di'lurhance, which, I)r Adams avers, was as intense, il not greater than that lately recorded at Japan, was observed by means of a level used ordinarily to test, the axis of the transit telescope by means of which time i' determined through watching the passage ol* stars across the meridian. WhilsL engaged in Saturday morning's test Dr Adams observed it strange movement of the sensitive level bubble, v. hie! - - was slowly oscillating itt the tube. The motion corresponded to .. tilt of 1 ~r, seconds of an are. or ronglilv one inch in 1000 feet. The hobble's periodic movement ot alani! |.'i s,.roods Constituted the 'iaudard ireqnency <d’ well esta.blished enrthpuakc wave-, and lasted lor idiom jli noiiuii". Observing that the move mein ol tli" bubble registered some unusual and apparently extremely p.iwerlul movement, the develnp-nem ol i.;c seismograph tape nils held over, with the re-uli I Iml -nee excelled recur.ls In emver.-atieii la-t evening. Dr Ailanis iniorimd a "New Zealand Time-" reporter limt beyond the completion ol the plate he had made mi further -i inly of t lie oeeunviirc. Eolhuing the line Imm v. inch tin - disturbn lire appitrenllv originated, lie autieipnted that the 'quake would be somewhere in tile vii'iitily of New Guinea, lie again nunarked that it was n very proin i!need one, in fact. one ol the heaviest recorded on the instrument. A K E AT .MANILA. Rearing out Dr Adams's statement. ;i ealde was received from .Manila hist night staling that a slight shock of car! hquake was lelt. there at a lime corresponding with records here. The fio-t thal the shake in Manila is re ported lo he a slight one only, it follows that the statement that the centre of the 'quake appears to be further to the cast is apparently correct. Exactly where it is is not yet knou n. Kurt her messages may, however, throw more light on what is an extraordinary record hv the Government. Seismologist. Although Di Adams's experience is rare, something similar has been before achieved. This 11:1- 1 lie disastrous Chinese 'quake in December. Ii) JO. which was one of the worst recimled in modern times. This was observed in a similar manner to the above, and was actually verified by seismographicnl records and belated reports from China it-elf.