THE WHAKATANE EARTH TREMORS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3060, 3 December 1908, Page 5

THE WHAKATANE EARTH TREMORS.

MORE SHOCKS YESTERDAY. , RESIDENTS BECOMING ANXIOUS. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 2. The "Star's" Whakatane correspondent telegraphs that the succession of earth tremors has continued .throughout the night. Each shake "was preceded by a loud rumbling noise from seaward. People are becoming anxious, as it is said these were similar occurrences fur some time previous to the Tarawera eruption. THEORY AS TO THEIR CAUSE. LUNAR PROXIMITY ADVANCED. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 2. In connection with the severe earthquake shocks experienced at Whakatane and the supposition is that they are the result of volcanic activity at sea. Mr J. T. Stevenson, F.R.A.S., says the date is coincident with the moon's nearest approach to the earth on the Ist of the month, and he remarks upon similar coincidences at the time of the great eruption of Mount Pelee and the eruption of Vesuvius.

EXTRAORDINARY HAPPENINGS. AT WHALE ISLAND. MORE SHOCKS. Later. A telegram from Whakatane states that further shocks of earthquake were experienced last night, ten occurring within an hour, one of which was the most severe since the Tarawera eruption. Fishermen report that there is a large crevice on the seaward side of Whale Island from which a dense yellow cloud which took a quarter of an hour to dissipate, issued simultaneously with an earthquake shock. Dry hot sand is being emitted from the island. White Island is noticeably quiet.