RAOUL ISLANDERS SEVERELY SHAKEN

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 1

RAOUL ISLANDERS SEVERELY SHAKEN

(New Zealand Press Association) t WELLINGTON, November 19. Whole sections of the cliffs falling down into the sea amid a cloud of dust and the ship pitching, tossing and rumbling with earthquake tremors greeted the coaster Holmbum on her arrival at Raoul Island last week-end with a relief party’ of scientists and shore staff, crew members said today.

The tremors are believed to be coming from a previously uncharted sea mountain, 10 miles long and a mile high, situated in a region of volcanic activity along a ridge from Raoul Island south-west to White Island.

The ship returned this morning with nine men who have been on the island for 12 months and who during the last two or three days of duty had been subject to a con-

tinual “shaking," it was said. Engineers on the Holmburn said it was like being in a submarine with depth charges going off all round. The ship arrived at Raoul on Saturday morning and at 9.50 a.m. a large tremor lifted the stem, high up out of the water and set derricks rattling in confusion. It is reported that since the tremors began more than a week ago, there had been about 1000 distinct shakes recorded, many up to force 8. Since leaving Raoul, the ship has received word that another landslide sent the cow bails situated 20ft from the cliff, down into the sea. Members of the nine-man party which has been resident on the island for 12 months were reluctant to talk.

“Anything that is released will have to come from official quarters—we can say nothing at this stage,” they said.

Members of the Holmburn’s crew, however, said this morning that the men were “darned glad” to be away from the place. The ship took a relief party to Raoul, whose first sight of their future home was of a portion of the hill going down into the sea. In addition to the returning party, the Holmburn had on board three members of the Civil Aviation party—Group Captain A. H. Marsh (principal medical officer), Dr. J. de Lisle and Mr C. O. Full. They went up with the ship and spent a short time ashore.