A VERTICAL JOLT
STRANGE EXPERIENC, AT WAIKANAE.
Mr. W. 11. Field, M.P., has reported to the Government Seismologist (Dr. C. E. Adams), a most remarkable ocem’rence (says the Dominion.) Whilst at bis country home at Waikanae, at 8.44 p.m. on Sunday last, Mr. Field heard a strange but loud crunching noise, and at the same time it seemed as though the earth lifted up, and then subsided. That the noise and the movement connected, Mr Field had no doubt. As no record of an earthquake on Sunday evening was made by the seismograph at the Kelburn Observatory, Dr. Adams concluded that is was a vertical “jolt.”
IF A BIG EARTHQUAKE CAME SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY SUGGESTED.
The Government Seismologist (Mr C. E. Adams), whilst disclaiming any intention of being a scaremonger, believes that New Zealand should follow the steps of California and Japan by forming a seismologieal society, not altogether for (lie study of earth-movements — though that is a fascinating subject in itself—but rather to take in hand the creation of a working basis from which the whole community could be readily organised in case of a disastrous earthquake. “I don’t wish to put the wind up with anyone,” said Dr. Adams, as he handed charts showing Taupo’s four hundred earthquakes in 48 hours or so, “but all one can say is that such things as disastrous ’quakes have happened elsewhere, and they may happen here. If you went to the Mayor to-day, and said “What is to be done in the event of a big earthquake?” the chances are that he would not know. Probably lie has never thought of such a thing. It is one of those things that come, and never are people prepared. “Of course, I know that full preparation cannot be made for such a contingency, but a society might be formed that would provide a working basis —a society which should consist of architects, builders, insurance people, engineers, City and Borough Council officialSi and possibly Defence and Police officers. Such a society may, for example, have an inuflence on the type of building to be approved by local bodies, as a precautionary measure, but the essentials of life are of first consideration —the water and feed supplies, and hygienic precautions and laws to be observed in a crisis Such a society has been formed in California, and is, I believe, doing good work, whilst in Japan the Government is attending closely to the matter. Such a society here could do no harm, and might do a great deal of good.”
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2986, 14 January 1926, Page 2
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424A VERTICAL JOLT Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2986, 14 January 1926, Page 2
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