QUAKE IN ITALY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10193, 4 January 1926, Page 5

QUAKE IN ITALY

VENICE WRAPPED IN THICK FOAM.

PANIC-STRICKEN PEOPLE FLEE FROM THEATRES. (Received Jan. 3, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, Jan. 2. Two violent earthquake shocks wenfelt in Venice last night, lasting twelve seconds each. There was a violent tremor at Trieste, but there areno details of the damage. (Received Jan. 3, 11 50 p.m.) ROME. Jan. 3. Venice was wrapped in thick foam, which was suddenly illuminated by flashes produced by the destruction of the electric wires. The crash of stones followed. People were seized with panic and many fled from cinemas and theatres which were crowded rt the time.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

CAUSE OF EARTHQUAKES

GOVERNMENT SEISMOLOGIST'S

THEORY

SHRINKAGE OF EARTH’S CRUST

The N.Z. Government Seismologist (Dr. Adams), discussing the theory ot earthquakes with a "Post ’ reporter in "Wellington recently, smd that they are due to readjustment? occasioned by changes in rim earth’s crust. Where these readjustments are delayed from one ea tse or another, the ensuing tremor or quake is intensified. Readjustments in. the case of New Zealand are frequent, and, therefoic, less severe in the effect than elsewhere. A novel and extremely interesting series of diagrams, prepared by Dr. Adams for the Exliibtion, dates back to 1921. The first diagram, shaving the intensity of the hock and the montli m which it occurred, by means of vertical lines on a horizontal scale of 12 months, will be most valuable, after a number of years, in proving the muchdiscussed point of seasonal frequency of earthquakes. The years 1921 and 1922 show greater seismologic-al activity than their successors. Iu June and September of 1921. and in June, July and December of 1922, there were shocks of eight degrees of intensity. The years 1923, 1924, and 1925 show much ie;s activity, except in the case of a shock of eight degrees in severity in April, 1225. The strength of eight degrees, according to the scale, is '‘very strong shock, the falling of chimneys, with cracks in the vails of buddings.” The second diagram exhibited shows the areas over which shocks were felt in various parts of New Zealand, by means of circles. The North Island/ especially about its centre, shows the greatest activity. Another diagram, taking m the whole of the earth’s surface, shows the points of origin of world-shaking earthquakes for some 10 years as recorded by the instruments ot tlie New Zealand Department. Records from various points of observation in Nev Zealand are collated, and conipaiison shows the exact point of the disturbance. The crust of Thibet and its vicinity is shown to be weak, but tlie majority of the disturbances, indicated bv small circles at the point ot Greatest intensity, are clustered along the coast of the continents bordering tlie Pacific. There is a theory that this preponderance of readjustment on these great coastal lines is caused bv the gradual removal and the detritus gradually belng pded through the, centuries on the sea, flooi in deep water adjoining these continents- but they would not account, said Dr. Adams, for the reniaikabl activity in the narrow Isthmian coastline, ™ r - readtheory is applicable j; 1 /]; t [ . na i iustments, docs it explain-the latcru readjustments which oceui.