OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 16, 19 April 1911, Page 4

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

WELLINGTON, April 12. A Warning to Wellington. Y"rT HAT there is something in the ||i views expressed by Ur Malcolm ’l* McLaren with reference to Wellington’s geological instability cannot, of course, be denied, but whether Wellington residents will act on his advice to Hee the town is, to say tfie least, doubtfrZ Mr R. Speight, of the Canterbury College, was approached on the subject by a Christchurch “Press” representative. Mr Speight pointed out Unit Wellington’s chief danger lay in the reclaimed portions of the city. It was noticed in Japan that where earthquakes had taken place on made-up land, the damage was very much greater than it would have been if the ground had been naturally formed. Mr H. F. Skey, of the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory, was also asked to give his views on the subject. Mr Skey explained that, in his opinion, the earthquake predicted by Dr McLaren would be purely local, and would therefore not affect other parts of the country. Mr Skey assurred the reporter that in the event of a more substantial seismic disturbance occurring at Wellington, the distance between the Empire City and Christchurch was too great for it to affect the southern city to any extent.