WHITE ISLAND ACTIVITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 6

WHITE ISLAND ACTIVITY.

AN INTERESTING VOLCANO. At the Auckland Institute last nigiht Mr. R. B. Oliver delivered a lecture entitled "A Visit to White Island, the Active Volcano in the Bay of Plenty." Mr. Oliver led up to his subject by givinc a comprehensive review of the causes of volcanic activity and of the location of the chief volcanic lines throughout the world. White Island was interesting to the geologist because it was in this direct volcanic line which extended from Ngaurahoe to Savaii. There were two kinds of volcano, he explained, the lava cone, and those which were composed of fragmentary materials. The first type was not very common, but the -mountains of Hawaii were good examples, and Rangitoto was another example, though it had a cinder cone at the top. White Island was an example of the latter kind. It wa.s 35 miles from Opotiki, was 1,000 feet high, and was always surmounted by a column of steam rising to a height of 2,000 feet or 3,000 feet. In general appearance it was of a pinkish colour, and was practically devoid of vegetation. Boat landing on the island was impossible except under favourable conditions, and for the most part, its shores consisted cliffs. There was no fresh water at all, and all that was used by people who went there was conveyed from the mainland in sealed jars. The interior consisted of a boiling lake, yellowish green in colour, and heavily charged with fumes of hydrochloric acid. In the course of his lecture, Mr. Oliver snowed many excellent views and related some interesting information as to the efforts that were being made to make the sulphur deposits upon White Island of ooinmercial value.