NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1932, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

Earthquake Becorded,

An earthquake of unusual severity, the epicentre of which is thought to have been in the vicinity of tho Solomon Islands, was recorded on the seismograph at the Dominion Observatory early this morning. The tremors, which were clearly recorded, commenced at 1.48 a.m. and continued for about three and a half hours. ,"•- , Bapid World Tour. - A remarkable world tour, covering 33 countries,,was completed in 114 months by Mr. B. A. Laidlaw, general manager of the Farmers,' Trading Com* pany, and Mrs. Laidlaw, who returned to Auckland by the Maunganui from Sydney (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Leaving" Auckland at the beginning of last year, the travellers crossed to Sydney and. went thence through Java, Malaya, and some of the principal Chinese ports to, Japan, and thence across the North' Pacific to Vancouver, After a tour of Canada and the United States they crossed to Britain' and proceeded to < visit practically •every country in Europe and around the\ Mediterranean, the order being: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Polandj; Czechoslqvakia/"-Gennany, JHolland/ Belgium, France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia,' Italy, 'Austria? Hungary, Bumania, Turkey, Greece, Syria; Palestine;, arid Egypt. From, the;last-named they took 1 chip to India and,thence to Australia and home In" the course of his .travels Mr. Laidlaw made .inquiries into business conditions- generally, and particularly , and" establishedll mapyj contacts with 1, commercial men. He 'took over 7000 ft of cinematograph film. • - * " A First Ascent. The first recorded ascent of Cloudy Peak (7870 feet), at the head of the Kangitata River, was accomplished during the holidays by Messrs. B. A. Barrer, a member of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club, and F. E. Askin of Gcraldine (states the Christchurch "Press"). Cloudy Peak is the highest point on the range of mountains lying between the Clyde and Havelock Bivers. The climbers set out from tho Forkcs Hut early on the morning of 28th December, and reached the Cloudy Peak range divide about 6.30 a.m., .and the ,top of the divide about an hour and a half later. Aftei skirting below, the middle peak, which had frustrated their efforts two days before, they reached the head of- a snow couloir. Exciting going was experienced in the ascent of an ice face above a waterfall, rocks being loosened from the ice by the sun. Tho rocks opened on to a fairly large snow field under the summit, which was reached at 2 p.m., Hi hours after the start. The atmospheie was very clear, and the party saw The Thumbs, Mts. Alma, Sibbald, Sefton, Cook, Tasman d'Archiac, McClure, Edison, -Goethe, Tindall, Louper Peakj> arid* the Arrowsmith, range. The Forks Hnt was'reached again at 9.15 p.m. The climbers expressed appreciation of the kindness of Mr. Johnstone, of Erewhon Station, who assisted them in every way.