WHITE ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 112, 14 May 1935, Page 8

WHITE ISLAND.

NEW ENTERPRISE.

PURCHASE BY SYNDICATE.

UTILISATION OF HEAT

A Sydney syndicate has purchased White Island, at a moderate figm , ' , , with the object of determining whether the heat of the fumeroles can be utilised for any industrial purpose. This information was gathered to-day from Mr. P. A. MacKay, technical chemist, who is well known in Australia and who has built and operated several superphosphate plante there.

Mr. MaeKay told an interviewer that at White Island steam rises in large quantities and at high temperature. In to far as examinations have been made it has been found that the steam contains a considerable quantity of hydro chloric acid and ferric-chloride. The principal object, said Mr. MacKay, woe to use the very steady blow of the fumerolea to evaporate sea water and make ordinary salt, but the presence of the acid complicated matters. It was proof that the wteam was derived from srp. water entering the strata"from depth under prceeure, and the chlorine in the steam was derived from the fialt in the sea water. The machinery and buildings installed by i.lie company formerly working the island were still in existence, and the question of using them would be considered.

Mr. MucKfiy recalled the tragedy in I'M 4, when twelve men employed on White Island In=t their lives. At that time, lie said, there was a fresh water lake, several acres in extent, on the island. The men had constructed their sleeping quarters close to the pea, only a few feet above high tide level. One night a large piece of land, probably 100.000 tons or more, i-lid into the taking the men with it, and all were lost.

"There have never been any accidents on tho island from the fumeroles, which blow steadily, with no pulsation," said Mr. MacKiiy. "The men who lost their lives were engaged in mining the Bulphur, which occurs on the island in considerable quantity and still exists." Tho matter of refining this sulphur on a large scale had not been attempted.

Mr. MaeKay is very enthusiastic about the island. "Personally, although r am acting fin , the purchasers of tho island," he . aid. "I have seen nothing in New Zealand to equal it from the scenic point of "view. It may be closely approached without danger. Perhaps tho Government will one day realise what an asset it is, and acquire it."

Tho was owned by White Fsliiiul Products, Ltd., wliich, in September of last year, went into liquidation. The syndicate's purchase was made from the liquidator.