H.—34,

The approximate positions of all the earthquake epicentres which were determined in New Zealand and in the South-west Pacific generally during 1934 are shown on the accompanying map. Survey of East Coast. —Owing to the increased seismic activity off the east coast of the North Island, and other changes which have recently been reported along the coast, it is strongly recommended that a detailed marine survey be carried out of the whole east coast, including soundings in the seas east of New Zealand. It is probable that reliable contours of the ocean-floor will have an important bearing on the solution of geophysical problems in the New Zealand region. Publications. The Observatory has continued to publish a preliminary earthquake report each month, giving suflicient data for the determination of the epicentres of the principal earthquakes. These reports also include errors of the time signals sent from the Dominion Observatory. With this report is also published a preliminary seismological report from the Magnetic Observatory, Christchurch. Besides the preliminary reports, the following complete seismological reports were published during the year 1934 : — E. 32. —Seismological Reports for 1932, January, February, March. > E. 33. —Seismological Reports for 1932, April, May, June. E. 34. —Seismological Reports for 1932, July, August, September. E. 35. —Seismological Reports for 1932, October, November, December. Also the following bulletins : — Bulletin No. 91.—'-Report of the Dominion Astronomer and Seismologist for 1932. Bulletin No. 92. —Earthquakes : The Futility of Predicting them. (R. W. de Montalk.) (Reprint from Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Vol. 24, No. 2, April, 1934.) In addition, the following reprint from The Dominion, 1934, May 16th — Shear Waves through the Earth's Core. (L. Bastings, M.Sc., F.lnst.P.) An article on the Dominion time-service arrangements giving full particulars of all the time signals supplied by the Observatory, was prepared for and published in the New Zealand Nautical Almanac. Articles on seismology and on mean time and time service were prepared for and published in the " New Zealand Official Year-book." C. E. Adams, Dominion Astronomer and Seismologist.

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