FORESHORE RAISED SEVERAL FEET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 February 1931, Page 9

FORESHORE RAISED SEVERAL FEET

GEOLOGIST’S OPINION OF' UPHEAVAL GISBORNE, 18th February. New light was thrown to-day on the Sponge Bay upheaval near Gisborne, where the ' foreshore has been raised from eight to ten feet. The spot is rather a lonely nne, seldom visited except by picknickers. For some years, however, Mr S. W. Strong, Geologist for .1 aranaki Oilfields, r has made periodical visits to it. lie stated to-day that lie looked upon the small geysers or springs as a safety valve, and considered that there weie similar ones in Poverty Bay, which mav have beneficially affected Gisborne during the big earthquake. on Tuesday week. Regarding tree stumps being heaved up from the depths of the ocean hod through the upheaval, Mr Strong said that could not be correct, for he had seen tree stumps in the same place on the day previous to the earthquake, and four months ago had taken photos of them and written a paper on the subject. 'The trees had probably been there hundreds of years. They probably grew near the sea, on land which gradually eroded and fell into the sen. The recent earthquake may have pushed them up a hit further, but even on that point he was not satisfied. 'l’lie only great change Mr Strong could see lis the result of the upheaval was the appearance of a new boulder hank near the shore.