Hectoe. — On EarthiuaJces and Wave Plienomena. 45 



a.m. it fell equally fast, and was at its lowest point at 10.35. Again at 11.15 

 the water came in with a great rush, carrying away a small jetty and some 

 garden fencing which was about four feet above high watermark. At 11.50 

 it retired to its lowest point. Advancing again, it came in with greater force 

 tha.n any of the previous waves, carrying away a boat house, more garden 

 fencing, and 40,000 feet of timber stacked five feet above highest high water- 

 mark. At 12.5 the water retired once more. At 12.40 the water having 

 risen seven feet above the ordinary high watermark, carried away another 

 jetty, also the ketch " Courier," thirty tons, which Avas brought back within 

 a few feet of her old berth by the next rush at 1.5 p.m. After this the water 

 continued to rise and fall at intervals of about three-quarters of an hour, 

 each wave getting smaller as the tide retired. 



Fort Lyttelton. — -At 4 a.m. the harbour was observed to be quite dry from 

 the wharf to Officer's Point, and the vessels lying on their sides. In a few 

 minutes an immense wave came up the harbour, tearing the vessels from the 

 wharves, and breaking their warps and 8-inch hawsers. Much injury was 

 done to vessels. "Water rose and fell for hours. At 6 a.m. the tide was 

 below low watermark, and in a quarter of an hour it was above high water- 

 mark. At 9.30 a.m. another roller came in. The water sometimes rose and 

 fell three feet in five minutes. 



By other observers : At 11.30 p.m. on Saturday (15th) the water was 

 half -flood ; stood at this some time ; at 12.30 a.m. on Sunday it rose to the 

 usual high watermark ; at 1 a.m. it fell back to half-ebb ; at 4.30 it was 

 half -tide again. After this the water gradually fell back. At 6 a.m. it was 

 down to low watermark, making three times high water in six hours. At 

 noon it was high water. At 1 p.m. the water dropped suddenly four feet. 

 At 2 p.m. the tide rose higher than usual, covering the Eeef. The agitation 

 is still (6 p.m.) going on. 



HohitiJca (West Coast) . — INTo particular disturbances of the tide noticed. 



Kaiajioi. — Four miles from the mouth of the Waimakariri, at 3 a.m., 

 two hours after ebb, an immense wave, four feet high, rushed up the river, 

 doing much damage to the ships lying at the wharf. First wave at about 



3 a.m., followed by two others at intervals of about fifteen minutes. Up to 



4 o'clock seven in all, but not of such magnitude as the first two or three, 

 had rushed up the river. The greatest force of the waves Avent up the south 

 branch of the river, thus saving the town from disastrous consequences. 

 Waves continued to come up at intervals during the day. 



JPicton. — Nothing unusual in the tide. 



White's Bay. — -At 10 and 10.20 a.m. sudden recession of the sea about forty 

 yards doAA-n the beach from the usual tide mark. It rose again suddenly, 

 with a heavy SAvell and surf. High and low tides all the morning alternately. 



