REPORT OF SSISMOLOGICAL COrWITTEE, 



Members of Committee. 



Mr. a. B. Biggs 

 Mr. R. J. L. Ellery 

 Sir James Hector 

 Mr. H. C. Russell 



Captaix Shortt 

 Sir C. Todd 

 Mr. G. Hogben 



(Secretary). 



With the exception of the earthquake of January 27th, 1892, 

 which was felt throughout Tasmania and in the south-east of 

 Australia, and one or two slight shocks in Tasmania, recorded by- 

 Mr. A. B. Biggs, earthquake activity in Australasia during 1892 

 was confined to New Zealand. In the last-named cohmy there 

 ■were seventy-one shocks, of the usual mild description. For the 

 recording of these we have again to thank Dr. Lemon, Superinten- 

 dent of Posts and Telegraphs, Wellington, for his kindness in 

 allowing memoranda to he forwarded by the officers of his depart- 

 ment. We are also indebted to several private observers, chief 

 among whom must be mentioned Mr. H. C. Field, of Wanganui, 

 who regularly supplied careful notes of all shocks observed by 

 him. 



The Tasmanian earthquake of January, 1892, has been the sub- 

 ject of an investigation by Mr. G. Hogben. He assigns to it an 

 origin situated east of Tasmania, the epicentric area being a 

 narrow strip lying between 153° 56' and 154° 36' east longitude, 

 and between 41° 13' and 40° 46' south latitude, and situate at its 

 nearest point 353 miles from Launceston and 365 miles from 

 Hobart. The maximum intensity was between VH. and VIII, on 

 the Rossi-Forel scale ; the velocity of propagation about twenty- 

 six miles per minute. The ejiicentrum is not far from that found 

 •by the same writer for the earthquake of the 13th May, 1885, and 

 it would probably be safe to conclude that all the chief shocks of 

 the remarkable series of earth disturbances that tuok place in Tas- 

 mania and South-East Australia from April, 1883, to December, 

 1886, proceeded from the same region, and possibly that the 



