Earthquakes and Volca nic Action.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8189, 15 May 1906, Page 7

Earthquakes and Volca nic Action.

Lecture by Dr. Marshall

At the opening meeting of the Otago Institute last week the president (Dr. P. Marshall) delivered an address on " The History of Volcanic Action in New Zealand." He made some interesting remarks on the connection between volcanic action and earthquakes. Tho eruption of Tarawera was one of the most violent erupt : ons flaat had taken place in New Zealand or in historical times. The explosions of steam were very violent, and yet earthquakes were not felt to such a great distance. Auckland was not greatly disturbed, and at Wanganui. Napier, and Gisborne, thoy were hardly felt. Evidently there was no connection whatever between the violent earthquakes and volcanic action. At any rate, volcanic action did not generate earthquakes of great violence. If volcanic eruptions were as-sociated with great earthquakes, what parts of New Zealand would be subject to most disturbance ? Surely Auckland and Napier, and yet it was found that it was Wellington that was most liable to earthquake disturbance. Parts ot the South Island that were of volcanic origin, such as Dunedin, were particularly free from earthquakes, and those places that were situated far from volcanic action were subject to disturbances. Referring to the possible continuance of volcanic action in New Zealand the speaker said all he could state on this matter was of a negative nature. Geologists were still inlants in regard to the knowledge of the main causes of volcanic action. They did not know the exact conditions that determined the outbreak of volcanic activity in any area.j