LAST YEAR'S SHAKES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 82, 3 October 1929, Page 7

LAST YEAR'S SHAKES

EIGHTY IN NUMBER

MOSTLY DURING MORNING

As the annual report of the Scientific and Industrial Eesearch Department does not include the period in which tho big earthquake occurred, last June, no mention 5s made' of thsA upheaval, but some interesting figures are quoted of the number of earthquakes that was felt in 1928.

The total number of earthquake shocks felt-in-'New1 Zealand in 1928 was 80; 60-of these were felt in the "North Island arid 23 in-the South Island. In three cases the same shock was felt in both islands. The maximum intensity of the shocks felt in 1928 was 8 on the Kossi-Porel scale. The maximum intensity of shocks felt in 1921 arid 1922, was 8; in 1923 was 6; in 1924 was 7; in 1925, 1926, 1927; and 1928 was 8 on the'same'scaled ■ : ■

The work' in seismology at tha Kel; burn Observatory has increased very considerably since the new Milne-Shaw seismograph has been running, and a further addition to the work has been caused by the installation of the second Milne-Shaw seismograph. In addition to the technical report on the earthquakes, contact prints are made of all important records and are sent to other observatories. The old Milne machine has proved its usefulness in a number of cases where the local shocks have been strong enough to throw the Milne-Shaw machine out of action.

During 1928 earthquake reports have been received from fifty-eight observatories. Steps are now being taken to obtain seismographs suitable for recording local earthquakes. By means of these seismographs it is hoped that some precise knowledge of the origins of New Zealand earthquakes may be obtained.

The total figures for 1928 show that the earthquakes were almost evenly distributed throughout the day. There was a slight preponderance o£ morning over evening in the earthquake numbers, but this only amounted to 6 per cent. .