FALCON ISLAND.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19133, 17 October 1927, Page 10

FALCON ISLAND.

AN ACTIVE VOLCANO. OUTLINE OF ITS HISTORY[TBS PEBBB Spteltl Bcrvlct.] AUCKLAND, October 15. Falcon Island, which lias vanished and reappeared several times within tho last fifty years, is now well above tho surface and has shown exceptional activity as a volcano during this i month. When seen by the commander and men of H.M. sloop Laburnum, a fortnight ago, the volcano was belching forth great columns of steam and lava to a height of 3000 feet. It was playing for about a minute at twenty minxito .intervals. During the time it was under observation by tho Laburnum, from October 4th to 7th, a careful examination was made and the island was found to bo approximately 1730 yards long in a northerly and southerly direction and 1430 yards broad in all easterly and westerly direction, Tito sides sloped up gradually to the edge of the crater, which was 305 feet abovj water level. Nautical records in the Laburnum, which returned to Auckland last night, show that tho island has undergone many changes. It was first seen as a breaking reef from H.M.S. Falcon in 1865, and again in 1877 smoke was seen issuing from the sea by H.M.& Sappho. It appeared as an island in October, 18-55, and was surveyed by H.M.S. Egeria. It was found to bo about one mile and a half long tmd one milo wide with a height of 153 feet and was formed of loose volcanic ashes and cinders, which material was constantly slipping down as tho action of the sea Undermined the coast until the* island was finally dispersed. In April, 1894, Falcon Island had disappeared to such an extent that at a distance of two miles it had the appearance of a low strpak of black rook. In December, 1894, volcanic action was found to have taken place quito recently, with a result that tho island was then 50 feet high and three miles long and li miles broad. In 1889 it had disappeared again, arvl its place was occupied by a shoal. Two years later it was showing about nine feet above water, and in 1913 it has reported by the ship Cormorant to have disappeared. In 1921 it Was.observed by H.M.S. Veronica, which made nn inspection and reported that about three feet of water was breaking over a submerged. volcano. An area of green water was seen stretching in all directions for about a mile. The Laburnum sighted the volcano in -action at 5.45 a.m. on Tuesday, October 4th, and at that time its action was visible from Nukualofa. Tonga. Falcon Island is situated 20 deg. 20 min. south latitude by 170 deg. 20min. West, about 45 miles north of Nukualofa. . ,