EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 692, 18 June 1929, Page 8

EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH

MORE INSTRUMENTS NEEDED TRACING OF DANGER ZONES WELLINGTON, Monday Guided by the experience of today’s earthquake, the Miinster i u charge of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department, the Hon. H Atmore, has given instructions for the immediate placing of orders for one or more of the seismographic instru meats required for the accurate recording of local disturbances. “As Minister in charge of the de partment controlling the Seismolo-i. cal Office,” the Minister said, am informed by the Government seismologist that a telegram from Grevmouth states there was a local earthquake there at 7.25 a.m. today, but there are no details. In Wellington the seismographs were shaken out of order. These are very sensitive Instruments and are especially good for recording distant earthquakes. Earthquakes all round the Pacific Ocean are recorded here. Our reports are used to help other observatories to locate earthquakes. By this method we get maps showing the exact position of dangerous areas of earthquakes some distance from New Zealand, but when the tremors are close to New Zealand their \iolence is such that they thiow the seismographs out of action.

"This time the violence was more than usual, and it dislocated two different parts of the machine. We have also a rougher model of seismograph the record of which will be developed tomorrow morning. This will probably be a good record. Seismographs for recording local earthquakes are obtainable, anrl it is hoped to insta! some of these in New Zealand, so that originating centres may be accurately located. It is much more important to New Zealanders xhat lull information of local earthquakes should be obtained, and our stations will not be adequately equipped until we are provided with these necessary instruments. Orders will be placed immediately for one or more of these instruments required for recording accurately local earthquakes.”