IMMUNITY FROM EARTHQUAKES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1929, Page 2

IMMUNITY FROM EARTHQUAKES

prediction for DOMINION.

SETSMOLOGiJST’S VIEW.

New Zealand should be immune front serious earthquakes (apart from ‘‘after-quakes’'' l for a loop; time to come, according to a. forecast published in the “Daily Mail,'’ London, by Professor A. Belar, “the earthquake wizard,” director of the Sit Humphrey Davy Observatory al Dor-ic-Bled, Jugo-Slavia, and correspondent to the “Daily Mail” on seismology. 1 ‘

Several inquiries as to the nitereffects of the New Zealand shocks and the possibility of a recurrence were submitted to Dr Belar, who reolied as follows:

“The recent y New Zealand earthquake is of that kind known to seismologists as tectonic (relating to I he formation of strata) and has occurred in a region in which shocks of considerable intensity are apt to appear at intervals of some sixty years. “Tliei penultimate New Zealand earthquake of this category occurred in August, 1868, and was succeeded by .what we may term after-quakes in the years 1869, 1870, and 1871.

“It may safely bo assumed that on this occasional also the period of afterquakes will extend over some years, though none of these ensuing shocks may attain to the intensity of the main earthquake on June 17. There is therefore no impending danger for the inhabitants of New Zealand, and one may travel that country without apprehension at the call ot business.”

Professor Belar’s forecasts have proved astonishingly accurate. For instance, lie predicted June 18 ns likely to be marked by an earthquake and was therefore within 24 hours of the serious disturbance in New Zealand. Another earthquake was predicted for July 25 and actually occurred on that day, the Philippopolis district in Bulgaria being badiy affected.