EARTH TREMORS AT TAKAKA

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1931, Page 2

EARTH TREMORS AT TAKAKA

VIEWS OF EXPERTS. fW r W, NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. % ' i;i , • : f. CHRISTCHURCH, January 10. ■“After such a big earthquake as the one in 1929, there are recurring tremors for, sometimes, as long as ten years. Takaka is a place of loose geological formation, and would feel tremors that would be imperceptible in country of a harder formation. Experience points to the conclusion that there need be no fear of another big ’quake in the Takaka district.” That opinion was given yesterday by Mr H. F. Baird, of the Christchurch Observatory, who investigated in the district after • the big ’quake, and who, in addition, was brought up in the vicinity and knows the locality well. “From the observations of residents and the course taken by the earth* quake,” Mr Baird said,' "it. is quit© possible that the origin of the shocks lay off the north-west coast, and that there was a ‘twin origin’ to the northwest of. Golden Bay. Naturally the after-effects would be felt in such a place n 9 Takaka, which is near the origin and is of a formation that lends > itself to the reception of the slightest Si, tremors. There is a lot of shingle un- " der the surface, and water is not far M down. M ”A parallel case is seen with an outcroop of hard rock in limestone If county. With the country around responding to a very slight tremor, JF the rock formation may register none at all, of only a very slight tremor. - There are some diverse geological forsg| mations at Takaka. All experience indieates that there is no cause for uu- ;■ due alarm.” !*$ Mr H. F. Skey, in charge of the observatory, is also inclined to agree with the Government report on the If? subject, which stated that thet tremors might be ! regarded in a favour'‘able way, as relieving; any strain that might linger after the big ’quake. .“That is what is indicated, and.that is surely what we want to ; believe,” w 0.,., said Mr Skey. “It is not established however, that the tremors are not due to some merely surface contraction, which, of course; would not be dangerous in the least.”