2 Notes on the Earthquake in Gipps Land. 



duration. A rumbling noise was heard for about three 

 minutes after the shocks. The wave seemed to travel from 

 west to east. Many persons ran out of their houses, fearing 

 that they would fall." Two days after I received the following 

 information from Mr. John Oliver, Deptford, Gipps Land : — 

 " I think it may interest you to know that we felt a smart 

 shock of an earthquake at this township this morning 

 at twelve minutes to five o'clock. It lasted friUy one 

 minute, and was followed about ten minutes afterwards 

 by a sound which I supposed to be distant thunder. 

 While the earthquake shock lasted, a dull deep sound was 

 heard ; the earth trembled, and everything indoors shook. 

 I was up at the time, and looked at my watch immediately 

 I heard the sound passing. The morning was dark, and a 

 drizzling rain falling. To-day thunder has been rolling 

 about. Any further information you may want, if I can 

 supply it, I will gladly send you. Quarter-past eight o'clock 

 Monday night : I had just written so far when we had 

 another shock, which lasted about thirty seconds. The 

 night is very dark and cloudy ; people here are rather 

 alarmed. Tuesday : Raining heavily all day with thunder, 

 accompanied with hail showers. Wednesday : Fine warm 

 day." In reply to some questions I asked, Mr. Oliver 

 subsequently informed me that " The trembling and 

 rumbling noise felt and heard by us was continuously 

 apparent through the whole of the minute. It shook the 

 earth and everything inside my dwelling ; and the noise 

 was quite loud. It seemed to increase as it passed, and died 

 away just as a wind comes over the tree tops, blows hard, 

 and speeds on. The second shock occurred as I was writing 

 my note to you. It was of the same character as the one in 

 the morning, and shook the seat I was sitting on and the 

 writing table. I can only liken the sound to that of a 

 heavy goods' train passing a wooden bridge. I feel convinced 

 that it came from the west and travelled to the east; but 

 I would not say it was due west and east, because I am not 

 sure." 



Mr. Turton, geodetic surveyor, who was camped at Little 

 Ram Head, about 22 miles west of Cape Howe, sent me the 

 following : — " Mr. Newton reports that when at the Snowy 

 River, on August 30 at five a.m., he felt a very sharp shock 

 of an earthquake. He was awoke by a loud rumbling noise, 

 and immediately afterwards the building and all it contained 

 began to rock violently ; the inmates were much frightened." 



