THE HAWAIIAN VOLCANO.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 217, 15 September 1886, Page 5

THE HAWAIIAN VOLCANO.

The Plow ol Lava Contlnuea-A Brilliant Spectacle,

A correspondent of the " Pacific Commercial Advertiser" of July 12tb, writing from the Volcano House under date of July 4th, giyoe the following particulars of the eruption :

"The day we celebrate" was duly honoured by Madame Pele, she pouring out great volumes of liquid lava in her favourite home—Halemaumau. A party of us went down to tho edge of the lake in tho crater of Halemaumau to-day, and wore much struck with the increase in its size since June 29ih. The surface of the lal a was about 435 feet in diameter from north to south and 205 feet from east to west. These measurements were made by continuing the steps of the guide, who ran across the thin black crust of the lake in the two directions noted, and calculating that ho covered three foot at each stop. To-day we found that this comparatively smooth surface had been raised about seventy-five feet above the former level, its original dimensions and form being preserved intact, while all around its edge numerous flows of lava had filled in the space between it and the surrounding elopos of the crater. Ihe central portion was still somo twenty live feet above the edge On which we stood, and from under the surface of this smooth, black tabloliko crater there poured out two grand rivere of lava, Tho liquid matter flowed down in a magniticont stream, about forty foet in width, into the lowor ponton of the bnsiii, lilling it to near tho level of the middle portion. Tho vent fiom which the lava poured out was formed by an immense club being lifted up bodily, and forming a (raping mouth out of which cuehod the bright-red lava liko a torrent of water. This stream aa it flowed down was cooled at a short distance from its visible source, so aa to appear in the bright noon doy sun of, a glistening eatiny blackness. At the same time the cooling of the surface retarded its ttjw, so that it "gartered " itself, aa It woro* in narrow, smooth folds, arranged in parallel curved lines across tho surface of the llow. Aβ the stream widened in its course this cooled surface] thickened and wns forced into curiously contorted folds and wrinkles. Those would become bnlarged by tho preaeuro of tho liquid lava beneath, which finally burst through the lowor edge or face of the fold and then rolled out again in slow moving streams of a rich red colour, Ttio hoat wan very groat from the moving masses and I(. was with some ililllculty that Wo approached near enough to not out on long poles, lumps of the partly cooled lava, and imbedded coins in thorn. The display of light and tho illumination of the cloudy at night Vvost pit has beoa vory fino at times during tho past week.