THE VOLCANO AT SAVAIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12971, 14 September 1905, Page 6

THE VOLCANO AT SAVAIL

STILL VERY ACTIVE.

The Union Company's steamer Manapouri, which arrived from the Islands yesterday, brings news that the volcano at the island of Savaii, in the Samoan group, was still very active when the steamer called there. After leaving Apia, the. Manapouri steamed round to Savaii, and those on hoard had a fine view of the spectacle, which is described as being vory grand. The volcano was ejecting enormous masses of molten lava every few seconds, but there was very little smoke issuing. A party from the Manapouri visited the volcano from the Apia sido, and had a very fine view of it. "A correspondent of the Samoa Zeitung, describing what he saw on close inspection of the eruption, says:—"To give some idea, of the gigantic, power' at work, one lias but to mention that some of these moving mountains, which have been thrown out of the crater, have reached points several miles from the mouth. Fancy a travelling mountain range four or five miles long, and in many places a-quarter of a mile wide, and at several points 200 ft high, and then you get some idea of the magnitude of the forces at work. There are probably five or six, if not more, of these shifting mountains, carried upon the bosom of the molten lava, which is underneath. Of course, they are not all as large as the first one described, but together they represent millions upon, millions of tons of ejected matte*; The larger ones, which are now travelling very slowly, will probably soon come to a standstill, as the lava which is carrying them is solidifying at the extreme ends, and is beginning to hinder their forward progress. This hardening of the lava at no very great distance from the central furnace will probably bo the means of saving much fertile country from being overrun and devastated. After making minute investigations, we were able to assure the native population of their comparative safety, and that, although some more valuable ground might be destroyed, it is not at all likely that life would be endangered. This has given much relief and encouragement, and the Safotu people, who had held their " fono," and decided to desert their town and ground, have abandoned then resolutions, and are quietly settling down again."

11 The lambing throughout New South . 1 Wale.-; shows a very high average, and will : do much to restore the herds depleted in I the drought. At Bel trees station, in the ■ Scone district, 20,000 ewes gave over 90 . per cent, of lambs. Over 100,000 sheep will be shorn at this station this year, which will be the largest- number for many years. ; The police authorities at Broken Hill j have notified owners of places where Sun- , day entertainments are given that under j the provisions of an Imperial statute, George 111., every person holding a license lor a theatre, or building lor public entertainment, is liable to a line of £20 for every day such place is open or used on the Lord's Day.