THE EXPECTED HIGH TIDE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 560, 28 September 1869, Page 2

THE EXPECTED HIGH TIDE.

The Resident Magistrate at "Westport, Dr G-iles, appreciating the interest which is taken in the probable date and character of the expected high tide, communicated with the telegraph department at Wellington to ascertain if arrangements could be made for the transmission of intelligence from the East Coast. The following reply was yesterday received from the General Manager of Telegraphs :—" Information of any tidal or meteorological phenomenon occurring on or about the sth October will be telegraphed as soon as possible to Westport and all stations likely to be interested in the matter." A.s the tides occur four hours earlier on the East Coast than here, and as an increase in the volume of the tides must gradually occur, there will be abundance of time for people to be forewarned; and it is just possible that, with ordinary weather, the rise in the tide will not attract more attention than would an ordinary spring tide. "When noticing this matter, it may be well to remark that there prevails a very erroneous popular conception of the meaning of the words " tidal wave." There are two tidal waves every day in the year—the

rise and fall of the sea on the shore being simply the result of the passage of a wave round the world; and the " tidal wave" of the sth of October will not differ in character, though it may in height. We notice that, from the low ground in the neighborhood of Sandridge, Victoria, some of the inhabitants are disposed to betake themselves to safer situations, and the Melbourne Argus ia satirical enough to console the silly runaways to the country by stating that on thehigh ground they may expect the earth to open, &c, &c, &c, with a considerable disposition to " chaw up " humanity generally. The " Peripatetic Philosopher's" philosophy is " Let it wave."