THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1901. THE SUBTERRANEAN FORCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1901. THE SUBTERRANEAN FORCES.

The more we learn of the Earth we live on and of the universe of which it is part the more is the thoughtful mind impressed with the wonderful nature of the stupendous Aaws that control and unify every manifestation of mundane. as of universal activity. Even while we are smll unable to comprehend their full extent and meaning, because of ti\e enshrouding ignorance in which thp rushlight of knowledge glimmer*', dimly, we see enough to realise! that Law rules over every phenome-, non, and that the pursuit of Science inspires a reverence for Omnipotence, which the ignorant could never feel. Of nothing is this more true than of the feelings aroused by the play of the subterranean forces, to the savage so erratic, to the barbarian so mysterious, to the scientist so ordered and regulated, even while he possesses do completed clue to their movements. To the West Indian negro Mount Pelee and La Soufriere are devouring monsters. But the civilised world is able to see in these awful outburst:; an inevitable result of influences affecting the entire mass of the earth, and producing allied manifestations in. Japan and in Peru, in Alaska and in Italy, in Honolulu and in our own New Zealand. For even while the electric wire was speeding the news of activity displayed, simultaneously with renewed violence in the desolated Antilles, by 44 some of the

greatest volcanoes in the world and widely distant from each other," an old geyser broke out at Waiotapu. As the interesting account, which we publish this morning, informs us this geyser has been dormant throughout the lifetime of the oldest native. A few hours earlier heavy earthquake shocks were reported at Cheviot ; earthquake being regarded HA another form of manifestation of the same subterranean forces. When everything is tabulated wc shall certainly find that during the past few days the Earth passed through a convulsive period, and found relief and safety by venting volcanically and seismically an excitement which otherwise might have wrought cataclysmic disaster. Loss of life occurred because we do not yet know enough to define the localities of danger, which some day may be as plain to us as the equally dangerous track of the tides.

That the influences which produce such gigantic and world-wide effects come from without cannot be doubted. Where so little is known the scientific imagination gropes for some theory, which will fit in with all known facts, and one of the most fascinating of these theories is that of the rising of a molten interior towards the .surface from causes undefined. But whether" the interior of our globe is molten, or whether it is held rigid at tremendous heat by the pressure to which it is subjected, does not alter the inevitable conclusion, forced by the electric-ally-gathered data of the past months and days, that local causes arc totally insufficient to explain the world-circling turmoil. The gradual breaking in of the sea upon subterranean heats might account for a Pelee and even for the whole Antillean outbreak. It might be coincidental that at the same time Kilauea should be similarly affected. But when at distances of thousands of miles apart outbreak after outbreak is observed, the possibilities of coincidence fail. Mr. J. T. Stevenson, of this city, has advanced the contention that lunar influences are clearly indicated. Upon this assumption, he has forecasted, with a very reasonable degree of success, periods of activity since the inception of the present eruptions, and forecasts another minor period towards the end of the month. Such a theory, of course, is entirely tentative, but it shows the drift of scientific investigation, and may at least lead to more assured knowledge, the value of which, even commercially, would be incalculable. When the approximate time, the probable localities and the probable intensity, of volcanic outbreaks and earthquake shocks can be forecasted with a fair amount of exactness, loss of life can be avoided, and loss of property reduced to a minimum.

If we venture further into the possibilities opened up by modern investigations, we find it asserted that something more than tides and winds and volcanic violence may depend upon the correlations of the heavenly bodies... It has been pointed out that not only is the present exceptional Australian drought allied in time to the Pelee outburst as a severe drought was allied in time to the Krakatoa outburst—but that we have associated with the same period a most remarkable tendency of disease to make unusual headway. Plague and smallpox have tried medical science to the uttermost in their attack upon humanity. Influenza has been rampant. Meteorological conditions may account for this, since " unhealthy weather' is a common phrase when the oppressiveness of the atmosphere becomes evident to everybody. But upon what do meteorological conditions depend 1 From the sun we draw the heat by which we live, but why does that heat vary in quantity If we return to the illustration of the tides, which are forecasted with approximate accuracy for years ahead, we htfye a proof of lunar influence plain beyond question. Nor can it well be doubted that it is possible for more subtle influence to be exertedby sun, by moon, by planets, one upon the other and upon the earth. We are only on the threshold of these scientific investigations which are gradually extending the limits of knowledge, and enabling man to make good use of the Earth by understanding the laws that govern it, and by conforming his habits to their operations.