Fresh Wafer Springs in The Sea

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5609, 25 March 1931, Page 13

Fresh Wafer Springs in The Sea

REMARKABLE RESULT OF EARTHQUAKE. GREAT CIRCLE OFF PANIA REEF, Per Press Association. NAPIER, March 23. An extraordinary submarine occurrence, caused by the earthquake, has been tlie opening of cold fresh water springs and the consequent existence of large areas on the surface of the sea, where fresh water is obtained. The springs have appeared situated in a circle round the Pania reef, a few miles off the Bluff. The shallowest spot in the vicinity has a depth of six feet and the reef falls away on all sides to depths of 42 feet to 32 feet. It is from this location, where the sea is about seven fathoms deep, that the freshwater springs have been gushing. Home of them are plainly visible. It can be seen that they arc at least two feet in diameter. It is some weeks since the spot was visited, an inspection having been made by the Napier harbourmaster, Captain H. White Parsons, the cnginccr-in-chief of the Public Works Department, Mr. F. W. Furkctt, and the Government Geologist, Dr. Henderson, a few days after the earthquake. At that time the water from the springs was quite fresh, but it is not known whether the springs arc still flowing.