CHANGED LEVELS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1931, Page 5

CHANGED LEVELS

HAWKES BAY SURVEY. EARTHQUAKE. RESULTS. ■HASTINGS, August 16. A survey of . levels for the. purpose of showing the effects of the earthquake in’ February has just been, completed . for the Hawkes Bay Rivers Board. The survey covers a wide area, and the data show the extraordinary fact that the . earth movement resulted in raising the previous level by a maximum of 6ft. ■Sin. at **gatarawa, a few-miles south of Hastings, and lowering it by a maximum of 3ft. 4in. just outside Hastings borough on the eastern side. The range of variation in previous levels:'.is thus ten feet.

The levels at Hastings show a fall of twelve inches at Stojtford Lodge, which increases to sixteen inches in the centre of Hastings, and to oft. at St. Andrew’s Boftd, -reducing to Bft,-81m at the Havelock North bridge, At Pukahu, the depression is general at I.9ft, From Mangateretere toward Havelock North, is-in-creases to 3ft- The average fall for three miles at- the Tuki Tuki -River is shown at Ift. 6in.

In the town of Napier a general rise of from 4ft. to sft. 6in;’ took place, while - form Wharerarangt Road to the West Shore embankment a rise of over sft. has resulted in' a ; considerable area being raised above the tidal effect on the north side of the Tutaekuri River. A general rise is shown averaging from sft- near Puketapu to 2.Bft. at Taradale. What is known as the “dead line,’’ on which no variation is' shown, extends from Awatotb to Meanee, to Tutaekuri. to Pakowhai, across Chesttrhope to Raupare, t° Stortford Lodge. 6n the Manga-teretere-Havelock North road the fall increases to 3.4 ft. ; it is 2.5 it. nearer Havelock North.

Considerable changes in levels along the Ngaruroro' River have been found, which may add to the difficulties of solving the flood problem of that river. From its mouth to two and a half miles above Pakowhai bridge a depression is shown, the maximum fall being 2ft. lOin. A gradual rise commences behind Chesterhope, increasing t« A.sft. and 4.lft. on the south side of the river at Fernfiill bridge. About two and s half miles above the bridge the rise increases to 4.7 ft. The rise gradually reduces until hardly any variation i~shown at Meanee. A decided uplift /lf *- t°° place near the Taradale road, which resulted in all drainage bv gravitation being put out of operation.