At 10.17 a.m. on the 17th June a severe earthquake shook Wellington and dislodged the mirrors of the Milne-Shaw seismographs at the Dominion Observatory. As soon as the instruments were readjusted, the after-shocks indicated the epicentre was in the northern part of the South Island; and telegrams from all parts of the Dominion showed that Murchison village had suffered more damage than any other locality. Accordingly a number of Government Officers from several technical departments visited those areas where great damage was reported and on their return to Wellington a round-table conference was held on 26th June, in the room of the Hon. The Minister for Scientific and Industrial Research. In addition to investigations that would normally follow the earthquake, several other pieces of work were suggested at the conference or were subsequently undertaken.