ORIGIN OF EARTHQUAKE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 712, 11 July 1929, Page 1

ORIGIN OF EARTHQUAKE

FAULT LIME STUDIED SEISMOLOGIST’S OPINION Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. An upthrust 13ft wide has been discovered in the rock formation in the hills eight miles -west-north-west of Murchison. This is probably part of the main fault and investigation is almost certain to show that this is the seat of the origin of the big earthquake, according to Mr. H. F. Skey, seismologist at the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory, who returned today after having spent a week in the Murchison district. The fault, said Mr. Skey, looked like a big step, the lower part having sunk 13ft. It was net far distant from one of the recognised lines cf fault and seemed to run across the Buller Valley and parallel to the By ell Range. The upthrust would be further studied and its nature determined. There was little doubt that the centre of the origin of the earthquake was in this vicinity. Booming noises in the valleys continued in the Murchison area. These noises had been heard for years, but had not caused much concern to the settlers. Sometimes shocks came with the noises, but more often not. Mr. Skey said he noticed that the noises which were followed by shocks were peculiar, being something like the spluttering of a motor-car about to start. A sound-ranging apparatus was being taken to the spot to detect the origin and direction of these noises. He was convinced the big movement was over and that the minor shocks occurring were due to the earth settling to rest.