331 
curve would be about 500 miles east of Cape Howe. (See 
my notes, Launceston Examiner, 2nd October). 
So far then as the time record of these two great shocks may 
be relied on, they agree in indicating a focus far away to the 
eastward, and that the supposition that these emanated from 
anywhere near the Straits Islands is quite untenable. 
Although, as I think, the conclusion at which I have arrived 
with reference to these particular shocks is inevitable from 
their time record, I by no means contend for a general 
application of that conclusion to the whole series. I have 
long felt a strong leaning to the probability that the home 
of a great proportion of these shocks is somewhere in the 
vicinity of the N.E. of Tasmania. But I am inclined to think 
it not only possible, but even probable, that they do not 
necessarily spring from any one point in particular. It is 
noteworthy that indications of direction have been extremely 
varied and perplexing. For some time after the commence- 
ment of these tremors, the prevailing direction appeared to 
be from somewhere near North-West, suggesting Sunda as 
their source. The time record, especially from August to 
the beginning of December, 1883, showed a prevailing 
progression towards the Hast and South, the shocks most 
frequently reaching Launceston before the Hast Coast and 
Hobart. Then there appeared a general change of direction, 
and from about April or May, 1884, as a general rule, they 
struck the N.E. Coast first. In my published meteorological 
remarks for May, 1884, I wrote as follows :—‘“ I have observed 
during the past two or three months a marked change in the 
character of these tremors, inasmuch as they now appear to 
proceed from no direction in particular, and frequently give 
indications of a twisting motion.” This would appear to indi- 
cate the transition stage. 
Mr. Arthur Green, from whom I have received valuable 
assistance, has an ingenious and effective little pendulum 
seismometer, whose indications were frequently confirmatory 
of the above-mentioned peculiarity of motion. Its tracings 
about the time mentioned above often exhibited a more or less 
circular figure, as if actuated by simultaneous transverse 
forces. The shock of 2lst March last exhibited a some- 
what similar characteristic. My seismometer (horizontal) 
record was a circular mark of about ,, inch diameter, which 
a magnifier showed to be crossed and re-crossed in all 
directions. 
On the question as to the origin of these tremors, it 
appears to me that three hypotheses present themselves for 
consideration :— 
1. The operation of local volcanic forces—that is, that the 
source is under our feet. 
