IMPOSSIBLE TO FORECAST.

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

IMPOSSIBLE TO FORECAST.

IE was on the advice of Professor E. Maifeden, who recently investigated the disturbances, that the Government decided, to authorise the Postal officers to Jeay'e the district if they chose to do mo. ~ Speaking rto a. Post representative to-day, Professor Marsden stated that it was.' impossible to forecast what would .haiJpen in the light of the latest developments. The position had serious possibilities, and-in view of the danger.it was nqCright .tojkeep, the people in the district. That danger did exist was certain ; in fact, -the-chances of a. blow-up were one,in six. However, nobody could say •whiit would happen in the next fortnight. In Japan they had over 100 observers, and yet their forecasts were only approximate. What could.two.observers do'wol'lcmg without the proper instruments? ■•■''

Wairakei and Taupo, stated Professor Marsden,.wer.e saparnted 4£ miles as the crow flies, and" tho fact that .there was only two seconds difference ii< the time of the shocks at both places was an indication that the disturbances were closer to the surface. When the observers were in the district a week ago the disturbances ' were much deeper.

Professor Mara'den stated that he was .now having made three instruments which would, with luck, "ive the depth, origin, and direction of the disturbances. The latest shocks had been very severe, but -were^purely local. The cracks which had occurred were only to be expected. Regarding the. report from Rotorua that the-telegraph, wires had been disarranged, the Postal Department had been advised to prepare for tliat sort of thing. ,