EARTHQUAKES — INFLUENCE IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. 763 
machinery placed within tidal influence, makes it very undesirable to 
take water from the river at this part for a town supply or at any 
point within the flow of the tide. 
* 
GAUGINGS SUGGESTED. 
I need scarcely point out the great value of something like 
accurate gauging* of the quantity of fresh water flowing iti a stream 
of such importance as the river Eitzroy, and it is especially desirable, 
when these gaugiugs are to be used as data for calculations for engineer- 
ing works, that they should be the results of measurements extended 
over a lengthened period. When at a future time there come up for 
consideration schemes for taking water from the river for the supply 
of towns and for irrigation of the contiguous lands, or when the 
canalisation of the stream or other similar river improvements are to 
be considered or designed, such observations as the gauging of the 
flow of water will be a necessity. I would suggest that in addition to 
the levels of the river at Yaamba, which are now taken for navigation 
purposes only, there might be further records made at regular intervals 
of the velocity of the water and other data necessary for calculating 
the flow of water in the river. 
7.— EARTHQUAKES, WITH THEIR INFLUENCE IN BUILDING 
CONSTRUCTION. 
Bn THOS. TURNBULL , F.RJ.B.A . 
Ill the Third Annual Report of this Association Mr. Hogben, of 
Timaru, has a paper on, and a list of, 775 earthquakes that have been 
felt in New Zealand between the years 1848 and 1890. These, 
though numerous, have been on the whole of a mild character, and the 
loss or injury sustained from earthquake effects not of a very serious 
nature. Their frequency, however, has kept us awake to the danger 
of carelessness in the construction of our buildings, but this may be 
considered more beneficial than otherwise. Not that I admit the 
number; though Mr. Hogben is not satisfied, says his list is incomplete, 
and thinks that with care he could materially add to the account. 
Now, our early settlers had no want of physical courage, as they have 
shown on many occasions; but as they had had no experience of 
earthquake phenomena the dangers were greatly exaggerated. They 
set themselves to study the subject, and as a result we have seismo- 
graphs everywhere, and whether they are affected by earth, air, railway 
trains, or coal wagons, all these shocks are recorded as earthquakes, 
and the number is unduly swollen. 
Following the lead of Mr. Hogben, and wishing in some way to 
further the objects of the Association, I have compiled this paper on 
earthquakes and building construction for your consideration, hoping 
it will be of some interest to the members. No doubt Australia" has 
hitherto been almost free from earthquakes, and on that account the 
phenomena may not have had the attention they receive where these 
disturbances occur. Still the time may come when they may leave 
New Zealand and pay you a passing visit. For, according to the 
great geologist, “ The energy of subterranean movements has always 
