EARTHQUAKES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1931, Page 3

EARTHQUAKES

GOVEIINAI ENT ENQIJ IB V

By '1 elegraph—-Press Association t

AYELLINGTUN, January 8

The earthquake tremors which have continued .almost without interruption since the upheaval at Murchison in June, 1929, has led to a decision being made by Cabinet to-day to- send an office* of the Government Sicsmological Department to the area for tho purpose of carrying out an inspection and investigating the country. The alarm of the settlers in the .Taka-ha District, through a continuation of the tremors, was reported to the Government recently by Air G. C. Black, ALP., for Alotueka, and it is as the result of his representations that Cabinet has decided to investigate the movements in this area. In a telegram to the Government, Mr Black, ALP., said that . the .settlers were becoming greatly concerned nt the frequency and tho severity of the earthquakes during the past few days. Alt- Black suggested that an endeavour should lie made to arrange for an officer of the Siesmological Department to visit the district with a, view to locating the centre of the disturbances, which it was stated, -appeared to be local. It is believed that the investigation will lead to results of scientific interest. •

Commenting upon the message, in a report.to the Government, the Department. of Scientific and Industrial Research states that a series of tremors has been experienced at Tnkaka practically ever since the earthquake at Murchison in 1929. This was regarded bv geologists and seismologists in rather a favourable way. This attitude was adopted in as much as that strain and stresses were being relieved, as they occurred. This meant that the danger of a serious earthquake was therefore to some extent minimised although it was not absolutely assured that one. would not occur.