EARTHQUAKES IN THERMAL REGIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 142, 19 June 1922, Page 8

EARTHQUAKES IN THERMAL REGIONS

PEOPLE ADVISED TO LEAVE

DISTRICT

SHOCKS NOW CLOSER TO THE

SURFACE

The frequency and the increased severity of the earthquakes in the thermal'regions seem to be causing increased anxiety.

The nature of a message received by the'*;Minister of Internal Affairs yesterday; caused him to authorise the postmistress at Oruanui, and the postmaster at Wairakei, to vacate their posts if they wished to, and to inform the residents that they were leaving under authority received from the Government. The advice to 'the postal officers was sent through late last night, but a message was received from the Wairakei office this morning. The message was more reassuring.

A; message from Wairakei, dated Saturday, 3.30 p.m., reported that five fairly strong tremors were felt during tha'.-night, with one decided earthquake at 5.30 a.m. on Saturday.

A"' telegram sent yesterday from Taupo stated that the earthquakes at Wairakei were very bad, and almost continuous. Wairakei felt each shock two seconds before Taupo. At Oruanui the earthquakes were just as bad. The postmaster at Wairakei reported that the people were very nervous, and were awaiting word from Wellington as 'to whether they should leave the districlj. The latest earthquakes were the worst they had experienced at Wairakei, and the centre seemed to be between Wairakei and Oruanui. Actually little damage had been done, but ornaments had been knocked off shelves, etc. A* telegram-received to-day is regarded as more reassuring. It stated that Oruanui •reported cracks in the ground a few inches wide, up to two 'chains long and two or three feet deep. There has been no -other damage. It is possible that these cracks might ease the situation.