4 JS'otes on the Earthquake in Gipps Land. 



described as cairn and somewliat sultry. Mr. Tiirton 

 remarks, " something peculiar in the atmosphere." At 

 Deptford, " drizzling rain was falling." No sign of 

 the shock was experienced a,t Port Albert, at which 

 place the barometer stood at 29.88, with light winds jfrom 

 the N.E. 



A careful examination of the various magnetic and 

 meteorological records at the time of the earthquake dis- 

 covers no trace whatever of any disturbance of terrestrial 

 magnetism, or of any marked atmospheric change. The 

 barometer at the time was steady, and about 29.80 inch. 

 From 9 a.m. till 7 p.m. on the day previous there was a 

 disturbed state of the barometer, with a downward tendency ; 

 but this was accounted for by a strong northerly wind, 

 which was blowing till 5.15 p.m., when it shifted to the 

 S.W. with heavy squalls and a little rain. Although the 

 magnetograms (exhibited) show a very marked and consider- 

 able disturbance in terrestrial magnetism for some twelve or 

 fourteen hours prior to the time of the earthquake, yet this 

 had quieted clown by about 2 a.m. ; the earthquake 

 occurring at 5.50 a.m. 



The state of atmospheric electricity as shown by the 

 electrogram was almost quiescent at the time, although 

 preceded, as in the case of the barometer, by great disturb- 

 ances, principally of negative tension, as is usually the 

 case with strong, dry northerly winds. 



The length of time over which the rumbling noise was 

 heard appears remarkable for a case of such shght disturbance. 

 At first I doubted the correctness of the statement that the 

 vibration continued for over a minute ; but Mr. Oliver, in his 

 second letter, replies especially to a query I sent him on this 

 point. He says, " it was continually apparent through the 

 whole of the minute. The second shock also experienced in 

 the evening of the same day lasted thirty seconds." 



In this earthquake we have not, as is very frequently the 

 case, a low barometer. It was not high, but 29.80 is but 

 slightly below the average height. The state of the atmo- 

 sphere was generally reported to have been unusually calm. 

 I heard of no notable disturbance of the sea, nor any 

 unusual wave ; if there had been any I believe it would 

 not have escaped notice, either at the mouth of the Snowy 

 Eiver or at the Lake's entrance. 



