EARTHQUAKE RISKS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 315, 31 August 1932, Page 2

EARTHQUAKE RISKS

GEOLOGiST DECLARES THAT NEW ZEALAND IS SAFE PROSPECTS OF OIL DISCOVERY. Speaking at the Science Congress in Sydney last week, the chairman, Dr. P. Marshall, consulting geologist of the New Zealand Public Works Department, made an interesting comment on the earth movements of the Dominion and silenced alarmist statements which have been made on the subject. "We have in New Zealand," said Dr. Marshall, "a number of earthquake predictors, who lceep the people in a state of nervousness and suspense. Their predictions are based on personal prejudices without scientific foundation. Our newspapers now refuse to publish their views. Personally, I think New Zealand is quite j safe. All the evidence goes to show I that the Hawke's Bay area had been free from serious earthquakes for 10,000 years before the last disturbance. I do not think that Hawke's Bay will have another serious shock for many years, if at all, for the earth' s surface at that point has now been relieved." Dr. Marshall said that people were now returning to Hawke's Bay, and Napier was being rebuilt. The rara ark was often heard that New Zealand would some day, as the result of a huge earthquake, disappear. As a matter of fact, New Zealand appeared to grow with each' earthquake. Earthquakes in the Dominion had an elevating, rather than a depressing, tendency. As a result of last year's earthquake, the Napier Harbour Board acquired an additional 6000 acres of land, which promised to be fertile. The land had risen seven feet at Napier, and up to nine feet at points further up the coast. In the big earthquake in 1885 at Wellington, the land rose seven feet. At Murchison, in 1929, there was also an elevating tendency. Of course, New Zealand was subject to earth movements, but he did not think there was much danger of a big shock. The fact that there was an elevating tendency was most hopeful and encouraging. Alarmist reports concerning the Arapuni dam were discounted by Dr. Marshall, who said that any suggestion that there was danger to life and property was pure fiction. The dam was p.erfectly seeure, but it was a fact that the power-house had given some trouble. Dr. Marshall is not optimistic as to the prospect of finding oil in New Zealand. Oil was seeping out in twenty or thirty places, and the Government assistance in the search was limited owing- to the economic position. However, private companies were doing their best and were spending a great deal of money.