EARTHQUAKES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5500, 12 November 1878, Page 2

EARTHQUAKES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —Mr. Gammed can hardly think that a writer who states that “aqueous action is not exercising a degrading influence on the high lands ”is worthy of serious reply. It does not require any high scientific training to perceive this notorious fact, which any schoolboy who looks over the Hutt bridge in a flood may see for himself. The only reply to such an author is to tell him.to “teach his grandmother,” a review in the “ Edinburgh” notwithstauding. Where does the mud in a river fresh come from ? If anyone wants to read a scientific work on the subject, let him get a late work of Huxley’s, called, I think, “Rain and Rivers,” illustrating their action in the valley of the Thames. As for the information asked for by Mr. Gammell, there has no doubt been a rise of the land in this vicinity, and permanent since the year 1855. The must conspicuous point of observation is at the rauka mu\ea rocks, where, before the earthquake, it was often a work of danger to pass the rocks, but now there is a broad expanse of beach between them aud the sea. But this proves little or nothing. There was undoubtedly a depression caused at the same time on the opposite side of the Strait. Volcanic districts, in which earthquakes are frequent, are perhaps generally areas of depression and nob of elevation. Thus the centre of the Pacific is undoubtedly au area of depression, while studded with volcanic islands, and subject to frequent earthquake shocks. Mr. Gammell seems to be mistaken in supposing that science says that internal force must necessarily balance the waste of aqueous denudation. It may be that this is the result, but it may be that the internal forces are wearing out. In thin latter case, given sufficionttimo,ail the land must gradually be carried 'into the sea. By that time, however, mankind may bav a got accustomed to the position, and civilisation need not therefore expire. The descendants of Captain Webbe, at all event?, may be ready to take to the water, enjoy the cool waters of the temperate regions in the summer season, or bathe under an equatorial sun in the winter. They must learn new modes of feeding, because it would be difficult to keep up cooks without fire, and literature would be under the disadvantage that the books would get wet. Probably the memory by that timo would be so developed that books would bo unnecessary. On the other baud, if man would not develop into a merman, some of the sea mammals might develop into intellectual beings, their great enemy, man, having disappeared from the scene. Joking apart, the effects of earthquakes observed by us arc only small local phm imena. The great elevations and depressions of the earth's crust have no doubt been caused by slow and steady movements in general, varied by great catastrophes. When we find the chalk forming large parts of the land of England, France, and the rest of Europe, and we know that this rock must have been formed at a depth in the ocean of some 2000 fathoms, we see that there has been a great elevation. When we know that the greater part of Now Zealand has been not only once but many times beneath the sea, wo perceive that there havo been very great and varying changes in level.—l am, &c., Muka Muka.