WHERE HOUSES LEAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 741, 14 August 1929, Page 9

WHERE HOUSES LEAN

CITY’S VAST UNDERGROUND RIVER LIFE IN OLD MEXICO Under the surface of the ground in Mexico City is a. vast flow of water which has the strange effect of making the houses lean at queer angles. though they are erected on foundations of stone and concrete to a depth or 20 feet. This was one of the interesting facts recounted by Mr. \V. F. Boyle. United States Consul in Auckland. who addressed the Victoria League last evening. Dir. F. S. T. Little presided. After outlining the ancient and more recent turbulent history of Mexico, Mr. Boyle said that the real country was the vast plateau ranging from 5.00011. to 8.000“. above sea. level. Mexico City was 4.500tt. above the sea. In 200 years the famous cathedral in Alexico City had sunk from 7ft. to Bft. because of the presence of water. while a great marble theatre erected durlng the term of office of President Dias had sunk 10ft. or 11ft., so that. it be—came necessary to bore deep under it, explode Fray/_aiate at a great depth. and fill the fissures which were made with liquid concrete. Although the language, culture. his—tory, music and tradition of the countr}r were Spanish, in 16,000,000 people there were not more than 1.000,000 or pure Spanish blood. and not more than 3,000,000 of mixed Indian and Spanish blood. There had never been any colour line or racial prejudice in Mexico. and some of the greatest leaders in the country had been of Indian blood. although on the whole the leaders of government. thought and industry were of European descent.