THE EARTHQUAKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 142, 18 June 1929, Page 6

THE EARTHQUAKE.

An earthquake is the most terrifying of visitations because it is the one in which man is most helpless. The very foundations of his lifo rock, and literally his world begins to fall to pieces under forces over •which ho has no control. Yesterday's earthquake, felt all over New Zealand, was one of periodical reminders that the crust of the earth, on the stability of which everything is based, is really in a condition of unstable equilibrium. When the poet said that "the hills are shadows and they flow from form to form, and nothing stands," he was referring to the immensely long processes of geological change. Such an earthquake as yesterday's was more like the faintest stirring of the earth-giant in his sleep. Yet it was enough to cut off some lives, to do a great amount of damage, and to alarm a whole community. There have been many earthquakes in our short history, but the loss of life has been very small indeed. (The Tarawera eruption, volcanic in origin, was in a different category.) The loss of life from this causc has been infinitesimal compared with that from accidents of various kinds. The astonishing thing about yesterday's shock was that the widespread damage to buildings did not cause more injuries and fatalities among the occupants. For instance, considering Avh.it happened at Nelson, the pupils and staff of the boys' college got off very lightly. Unfortunately the earthquake risk in New Zealand is already exaggerated abroad, and reports of this visitation will confirm many in the idea that life and property are daily put in jeopardy from this cause. Thero will be universal sympathy for Nelson, whose college is a national institution, and for Westport and all the other towns that have suffered damage, and if there is shown to be need, Ave are sure the people of Auckland will not be behind other places in helping victims of the disaster.