EARTHQUAKE CENTRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1942, Page 2

EARTHQUAKE CENTRE

SAME AREA AS PREVIOUS DISTURBANCE BUT AT GREATER DEPTH. REPORT OF SEISMOLOGIST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The centre of Sunday morning’s earthquake was near that of the big shock of June 24, but at a slightly greater depth, states the acting-director of the Dominion Observatory, Mr R. C. Hayes, who bases his statement on seismological information now to hand. The greater depth would account for differences in the surface effects, such as the shorter duration of the recent shock, and \ the more even distribution of intensity. The actual magnitude of Sunday’s earthquake was nearly as great as the shock of June 24. It would, therefore, appear that it was in reality an after-shock of the former earthquake. There was previously a marked absence of large after-shocks, such as might have been expected normally. The shock at 4.48 p.m. on Saturday was from the same region, but had an origin rather deeper than the previous after-shocks. A brief after-shock, with an intensity of 2to 3 on the Rossi-Forel scale, was felt in Wellington at 10.5 p.m. on Monday. The distance of its origin from Wellington was about 50 miles. At 8.6 a.m. yesterday there was another after-shock, a slight one which could only just be felt. The epicentre of the earthquake on June 24 was given as eight miles from Masterton, in the Taueru district. MASTERTON POST OFFICE INSPECTION BY MR WEBB. An inspection of the Mastertpn Post Office building was made yesterday by the Postmaster-General, Mr Webb, and Mr J. G. Young, Director-General of the Postal Department. Mr Webb was making a tour of the district to inspect departmental buildings throughout the area. A casual inspection of the Masterton Post Office building seems to indicate that Saturday night’s earthquake found a lot of weaknesses left by the disturbance of June 24. Several cracks have opened up and other cracks of serious dimensions have appeared. At least, it is considered that the old portion of the building will require to be demolished and rebuilt, when circumstances permit. It will probably not be possible to do anything until after the war, owing to a shortage of material and manpower. In the meantime, the building is being made safe for the public and comfortable for the staff. REMOVAL OF PARAPETS ACTION TAKEN BY MAYOR. The removal of the parapet on the Masterton Municipal Buildings is to be carried out at once, stated the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, this morning. Mr Jordan said he had instructed the engineer, Mr C. R. Mabson, to take immediate steps to have the parapet removed. Portion of the building, he added, had been badly cracked in Saturday night’s earthquake. Mr Jordan also stated that he had expressed a desire that the Masterton Borough Council should be associated with the Wellington City Council in making representations to the Government, seeking wider powers to deal with the removal of parapets, whether 1 they were damaged or not. He had been in communication with the Town Clerk in Wellington regarding the matter and it was hoped to meet the Minister concerned next week. DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS. BECOMING MORE APPARENT. As a closer inspection is being made, it is found that a fair amount of additional damage to brick buildings in the business area of Masterton resulted from Saturday night’s severe earthquake. It seems likely that more demolition work will have to be put in hand. . A start was made this morning with the removal of the parapet of the Trust building in Lincoln Road occupied by Messrs Pool and Son and H. Long and - Co.