The earthquake cycle ia New Zealand would, it seems, be again coming round, for by the descriptions sent as the vibration of the earth across the centre* of the Middle Island on Saturday was qnite as severe as the earthquakes of 1848 and 1868, which are recorded as being the worst in the reoolleotion of Europeans in this colony. The first severe earthquake remembered by the early settlers was on October 16th, 1848; and more recently the one on October IB.h, 1868, were about the worst. There have been between those dates Borne severe shocks, bat dam age was not done to the extent recorded in those years and on the present occasion in Canterbury and Weitland, Formerly the southern portions of the' North Island were tbe parts treated with the ereateßt severity by the earthquakes, bnt during the last twenty years all sfons of the earth's perturbation have evidently ceased ; the vibrations being of so slight a nature that they have not been felt by many. Bat in the Middle Island it has not been so; and from time to time we have heard of a tsooart shook being felt, although nothing like that whioh occurred on Saturday last. In 1848, we are told that the earth was not quiet for a month; and that a basin of water put on the roadway in W^'BBUm was in a constant state of agitation owing to the repeated shocks. In 1868, the earth was trembling for days, and on the seventh day another violent shock was felt in town. It is to be hoped that the earthquake that occurred on Saturday is the last we shall hear of ia New Zealand for some time. They are uncomfortable things to experience, not to mention the damage they do. Whsthbb excited by volcanic fire or an electro-magnetic current, the mysterious power of the earthquake always awakens a feeling of awe in everyone. Like the shock which makes the earth- tremble and groan as if in great agony, it also produces a shock to the nervous system of the human being, the more fearful for the reason that we know not tbe cause, and feel that it ib some invincible power which we cannot guard against. On such occa sions it is astonishing how small the indiridual feels; how helpless the strongest amongst the community appears. 