FALSE PROPHETS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1931, Page 5

FALSE PROPHETS

PREDICTIONS FAIL. EARTHQUAKE THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. ‘ • WELLINGTON, July 9. ; Many people ; 'got the wind up’’about' a severe earthquake which was prophesied to take place in Wellington on July 4, Saturday last, aiid this. in. spite of the emphatic pronouncements * of seismologists and’scientists in general that to forecast accurately the time, place and intensity of- an earthquake is impossible. All such 'forecasts are pure guesswork ; if' made often enough, however, in a country like Now Zealand, subject to the mark will be hit blit not. more often than one might %Jbe expected by the laws of chance. As a matter of fact, not even the slightest earth tremor was recorded on July 4. : The earthquake recording instruments at the Dominion Observatory, Kelburn, have had no more to do during the last few days than usual. They frequently record earthquakes about which people f as a whole know nothings—thAHdrikior j shocks which are perpetually occurring, but which renuire delicate instruments to detect. Since the’beginning of this month there has been only one shock recorded that could have been felt in. ■Wellington. . • . .

Dr C. E. Adams, Government Seismologist, , has supplied the, following complete list. It will be noticed ..that on July 4 there was a complete absence of earth tremors, which is unusual, as some are usually recorded every day. July I.—-9,17.p.m., very slight tremor; 9.19 p.m., very slight local shock; 9,45 p.m., slight shock originating, 194 , from 'Wellington, near Gisborne. T.-.“ July 2.—3.52 p.m. and 5.10 p.m. slight tremors; 6.41- p.m. ; and. 8.9 p,m.y-slight shocks originating at Tahaka. July 3.—2.1- p.m., very slight shock 48 miles- from Wellington; 5.19 p.m.!, 1 slight shock 138 miles away (probably ■H.awkes Bay). ■ July .4. —Nil. ...- July 5.—11.46 a.m,, .tremor. - > ■- & July 6.—7.8 a.igj||ight tremor ; m a.ini. shock....-,,y ; July ’7.—minor tremor.;, in •' A, ' /Ay • V'*• %•! v G•>'•? >