TAUPO EARTHQUAKES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18225, 19 October 1922, Page 7

TAUPO EARTHQUAKES.

AN AMERICAN VERSION.

The press of the United States hag been romancing in a most remarkable manner about the earth tremors at Taupo. In the Los Angeles Evening News, of Sep. tember 6, appeared a heading rieht across the page in 3-inch letters, " 100 'Quakes Jolt Island," and underneath, " Large Area Sinks 4ft. in shocks on New Zealand Iple." The message itself is so grossly incorrect as to be humorous. It reads as follows :— " Sydney, N.S.W., September 6.—Reports received here from Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, tell of the most protraotod aeries of earthquake shocks over recorded. One hundred distinct shocks were felt. " These were crowded into the short space of one hour's time, and were so violent in character' that it is reported an area of two square miles sank a distance of from two to four feet. There was a panic among residents of the Taupo district of North Island, where the 'quake occurred. Native homes were destroyed, according to the reports, but there is no statement that lives were lost. " Great waves came in from the sea during the earth disturbance, but the report that a tidal wave had swept a portion of the island was officially denied. "An expedition is being fitted out at Auckland to go to the scene and make a scientific investigation. "The cause of the tremor is believed to have been the shifting of strata of earth under the ocean, and the vortex of the 'quake is thought to have been located some distance from the island The islands in that vicinity are all oT voloajsio formation, and internal pressure on the earth's crust may have resulted' in the shifting of strata, with a corresponding change in the topography of the ocean bed. One obiect of the research party will be to ascertain if 'quake results will" necessitate a change in chart data in order to render navigation safe. " One hundred earth shocks in a single hour are believed here to constitute a record."