Taupo Area Still Having Minor Earthquakes

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30642, 7 January 1965, Page 8

Taupo Area Still Having Minor Earthquakes

AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. Instruments placed in the Taupo area by scientists of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research have teen recording between six and 12 minor earthquakes a day. A senior seismologist, Mr G. A. Eiby, said he did not think volcanic activity had caused the tremors. “There have been no reports of unusual activity at thermal areas and we feel pretty confident the jolts are not the result of surface ac’h e sa ’dThe tremors had reached a magnitude of 4.7s—“which is short of the size at which things fall off shelves but is still a noticeable jolt,

"The Press” Special Service

enough to wake a sleeping person.” The tremors were not unprecedented, said Mr Eiby but usually were difficult to observe. “With these tremors we have been able to make more observations than with any comparable series. “This information should give us a better than average chance of finding the reasons for them, but it is likely to be some months before we can give any definite finding.” Officers of the Geophysical Survey were co-operating with the observation work, and special instruments recording the tremors on magnetic tape had been placed at points throughout the area.