AN “EARTHQUAKE PROPHET.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17756, 17 September 1927, Page 9

AN “EARTHQUAKE PROPHET.”

MORE SHAKES THREATENED

Mr F. IF. Field, who is known as an “earthquake prophet,’’ writes as follows from''Auckland, under date August 30:

Press Records show that,, as far back as March, 1033, 1 ventured to predict the year 1927 would be noted for severe earthquakes in different parts, of-the world, and that in New Zealand the most critical part of the. year would he about September. Perhaps our greatest seismic and volcanic, disturbances of this century wiil occur' in 19ti!t, and the season of activity, now about to start .might prove little less severe than if. hut lor. twt i fortunate cireii instances. People' in-wooden houses need feel no alarm. And well-constructed brick buildings ought to be safe. Still, it. would,-he wise to sleep at a little distance from brick chimneys, and to make fragile ornaments, etc., secure upon shelves. As yet, the astronomical'and local data that arc necessary for detenu in mg the times and placets of approaciung earthquake, are not recorded m any part of the world.' And without such data any foretasting is necessarily hazardous. J n 'a general way, however, the following statement may be expected to approach the truth: Earth tremors in New Zealand will be numerous during the next tour months. The strongest of them will occur between about September 8 and October 12. And-the most critical days are. likely to bb September 4 and 5 (mild), September 11 (severe), September 17-20 (sharp!, October 1 (the most severe) and /October 10 (sharp). Perhaps the part of New Zealand most secure from- earthquake damage is that about Auckland City, where anything of the nature of earthquake disaster is physically impossible. 'Wellington City is moderately safe. Christchurch is. perhaps, rather less so. Probably the least secure districts are about Southern Marlborough and a belt extending _ Irom about Wanganui-'to Cape Kidnappers. It may be taken a.s a rule that in stormy weather earthquakes are either weakened or absent. • Increased volcanic activity must bo expected about the times of greatest seismic disturbance. And that activity might prove serious, but for recent volcanic outbursts beneath the Tasman Sea and off our east coast. Such outbursts suggest the formation of permanent volcanic islands at no very distant date. Jn the meantime, the temporary appearance of fresh islands hear the Tongan. Group is quite likely this year. As for the weather, some of the disturbing factors will cease to operate just before the middle of October. Aft'ibnvards storms will still be severe, but of less frequent occurrence. A more detailed forecast sent to the Australian Government (in reference to the contemplated Tasman Sea . flight) indicates that, owing to a combination of disturbing factors, the proposed flight track is not likely to be free from storms during the next six weeks, and that- the present is the ver-v worst time that could be chosen for any long ocean flight in any part of the world.