AUCKLAND'S VOLCANIC CRATERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 230, 29 September 1930, Page 6

AUCKLAND'S VOLCANIC CRATERS.

Nobody can stay or live in this city for very long without noticing the many little hills which dot the isthmus. Probably not many people arc aware that, according to Hochstetter, a famous Austrian geologist, they constitute this "one of the most remarkable volcanic districts of the earth." The first and most detailed study of the hills, water-level craters and lava flows was made by this same scientist, who visited Auckland over seventy years ago. Within a radius of twelve miles of the city he counted sixty-three points of volcanic action from Mount Albert in the west and Takapuna in the north to Papakura in the south. Angry Nature has been displayed over this region in many varied forms. Some of the earliest outbreaks are still visible in the drowned craters like the Orakei, Panmure and Onehunga basins. Within the city and suburban limits there are 33 hills, 7 lagoons, 3 islands (Rangitoto, Brown's and Weeke's) and one lake, Takapuna. St. John's Lake is an indirect result o: a lava flow and the Western Springs is a manmade reservation. Fortunately, owing to the nature of the scoria and cindcrs, these hills have largely lost the signs of former volcanic activity and arc now clothcd in emerald swards. One other condition which adds to their interest was their former use as hill forts and refuges 'by the Maori people. While the wooden palisading has disappeared, the extensive terracing conveys some idea of the tremendous work of the Maori engineers and workers. On this account alone we should do all we can to retain this feature for the pleasure of future generations. We arc under a deep debt of gratitude to the surveyors of the early Government who made so many reserves on these hills. Many people naturally would have wished they had conserved t'hem all, 'but the urgent demand for cheap roading 'material could not be resisted. There are a total of sixteen domains, comprising 502 acres, on the hills around the city. This does not include the Albert Park or the Domain, both of which are sites of extinct volcanoes. Another most interesting evidence both of former volcanic action and botanical life is to be seen on Rangitoto Island, which was bought from the Maoris for flo. In Mount Eden we have, according to the judgment of Dr. Sehaeffer, of Vienna, a hill which contains the most perfect crater in the world, and a former Minister of Lands lias stated that One Tree Hill was "the finest city park in New Zealand." It is, of course, to be regretted that so much damage has been done to the hills in excavating for scoria, whereas if only lava had been removed from ground level no exception could be taken. There are at present about twenty-five quarries on , the various hills in the metropolitan area being worked by local bodies, the Railway Department and private individuals, and six hills have been practically demolished. But the citizens of Auckland should now. resolve to conserve what they can of the remaining beautiful hills, which are so pleasing a feature of the-skyline. Everyone should take the opportunity of climbing or driving up as many of the hills as they can, where they will be surprised si t the splendid views and interested in J heir geological origin and Maori associations. —G.M.F.