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Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1931, Page 6

’QUAKER IN NEW ZEALAND. Over aneriod of years New Zealand has experienced an average of 280 earthquake shoek s a year, .said Professor J. A. Bartrmn during a lecture on "Earthquakes and Earthquake Phe nomena,” which was given under the auspices of the Auckland Institute i'*d the W.E.A. The professor said New Zealand's total of shocks was not heavy when compared with Jinan’s average of 200), hut all the same there was a splendid field for investigation. and New Zealand was rr-t doing its duty to itself or to the rest of the world in neglecting a scientific study of the phenomena. .Jap n has led the way in the study of earthquakes, and her scientific men h d discovered that there was a fairly regular cycle of intense shocks. There wa s no reas.'n why there .shot 1.1 no! he such a definite cycle in New Zealand. and in the light of recent disaster,s there was every reason why New Zealand should make the closest investigations. Professor Bartr.im mentioned that there was earth fault lines near Auckland, in the districts of Ponkura. Clevedon. and the U'airoa Valley.. There was no sign of recent movement., and the fault lines vert not, considered to he of great mannert. Although Auckland should not regard itself as immune from earthquakes, it was not likely that it would ever experience the severe shocks that had occurred in other parts of the Dorn inion.