H,— 34.

The total number of earthquakes reported felt, and the maximum intensities reported in each of the years 1921 to 1934 (inclusive), are as follows : —

The figures given in the above table of reported shocks require careful interpretation. In a year of maior earthquakes, followed by numerous aftershocks, many of the latter pass unnoticed, while during a period of quiescence there is a tendency for all shocks, however slight, to be reported. This leads to undue emphasis being placed upon the earthquake activity of what is a comparatively quiet period. The great number of earthquakes reported m 1922 is due largely to the swarm of local earthquakes which occurred in the Taupo region in the latter half of that year. Earthquakes in 1934.—The following is a list, giving the position of the epicentres of all importantNew Zealand earthquakes in the year 1934. The list includes (1) earthquakes of high intensity, (2) earthquakes felt over a wide area i : - _ ... 7 i __ . i

14— H. 34.

105

J — V — Number of Earthquakes Maximum Intensity, Year. reported felt. R.-F. Scale. 1921 ...... 91 8 1922 1,187 8 1923 ....•• 76 6 1924 ...... 70 7 1925 ...... 76 8 1926 .. . ■ ■ • 173 8 1927 ...... 1°7 8 1928 .. •• 80 ® 1929 .. • • • • 678 10 1930 .. 748 8 1931 .. • ■ •■ 432 1932 .. .. • • 313 9 1933 ...... 108 7 1934 ...... 230 9

Approximate Position of Maximum Epicentre. R.-F. Places reporting Maximum New Zealand Mean Time. Intensity as Intensity. South Lat. East Long. felt. j j o ° M 3 t 9% 1*6 40-95 176-8 9 South-east part of North Mar. 0 to 10 • • Man(L g 93 27 41-1 176-6 3 Masterton and Paraparaumu. 7 n 9 o 40-6 176-6 5 South-east part of North Island. iQ g gg ., .. 5-6 Awarua Eadio.* 10 19 27 40-9 176-0 8 Porangahau. 10 19 34 40-6 176-9 6-7 Porangahau. 10 20 24 40-6 176-8 6-7 Porangahau. 15 22 16 39-65 177-6 7 Northern Hawke's Bay. " 21 21 25 41"0 172-4 6 Takaka. A " il 14 20 18 •• '< 40-4 176-8 6 Castlepoint. M«v 1 21 11 40-9 175-.3 5-6 Masterton. May l /i 11 4o5 176-1 5 Dannev irke. 9 15 15 40-8 172-5 5 Collingwood and Have- " lock. 22 16 50 .. 38-8 176-5 5 Taupo and Rakauroa. July 1 20 37 41-3 172-5 6 Collingwood. Au a 8 1135 •• 40-0 176-7 5 Pahiatua. °- 9 8 o 40-6 175-8 5 Masterton. 12 1 50 41-8 172-1 6 Murohison. Ort. 25 22 35 :: ■ • 41 176 6-7 Wanganui. _ 2 g 21 16 38-3 175-5 4-5 Taumamnui. Nov. 26 1142 I! '.'■ 39-5 175-8 6 Waipawa. 26 20 3 • 39 ' 6 177 ' 4 6 Napier. " 9 8 22 .. 45-4 167-4 6 South Otago. 14 19 44 _ 41-3 174,-2 6 Paraparaumu and Martinborough. * This earthquake was widely felt in the southern part of the South Island, but was not sufficiently well recorded on seismographs to enable the position of the epicentre to be determined.