DESCRIPTION OF ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15719, 21 September 1914, Page 5

DESCRIPTION OF ISLAND.

A DYING VOLCANO.

SULPHUR IN THE CRATER.

OPERATIONS OF COMPANY.

W Lite Island is really little more than the summit of what lias been regarded as an extinct, volcanic mountain sharply cleaving the deep waters of the Bay of Plenty. Until the yellowish-green lake that until recently occupied the crater was drained away, the island appeared to fee little more than a mere shell with oniv one breach in the towering cliffs that guarded the crater from tho inroads of tho heavy seas that beat constantly upon the shores.

Roughly speaking, the island is circular, with a diameter of about on© mile and ahalf. The only landing was on the southwestern side of the island, at what was ktown as Crater Bay, and which was re illy the beach referred to. In this ; vicinity a wharf was erected, and gave j access to a stretch of flat land, running in ' to the shores of the old lake—formerly a distance of somewhat over 100 yards. To the right or south of the wharf was a high bluff, known as Troup Head, while to the left commenced the almost complete circle of cliffs running around the northern portion of the island to end in a cliff 1000 ft high at the north-east side. Formerly a steaming sulphurous lake occupied the greater portion of the floor of the crater, but the company's draining operations havo resulted in a larger area of flat land on which have been secured rich deposits of sulphur. Numerous Fumeroles. The newcomer stepping ashore and looking through the breach and across the crater bed was confronted with sulphuryellow clouds beating their way up the black cliffs on the far side; more often than not the clouds were e.o thick that the bill tops were blotted out. Particularly dense fumes might bo seen rushing from blowholes in both tho north-western and north-eastern corners. In the forme* - comer were to bo found the most active fumeroles or sulphur blowholes, and this was the point whence, it was felt, danger might have been expected in the nature of land slides.

To reach the blowholes was not difficult, although without a guide the sate path might easily be missed. From these fumeroles pure molten sulphur, accompanied by strong fumes that proved verytrying to the throat, boiled forth. Similar activities, though in a somewhat lesser degree, were to be observed on tho north-) eastern side. It seems that the cliff that was disturbed by the eruption was blown from this latter corner.

One of the most interesting features of the island were the new fumeroles appearing at frequent intervals. Towards the end of last year the thermal activities were unusually pronounced. The Destroyed Camp, The camp, a terra used to include all the works buildings and the living quarters of the manager and the men, was situated 011 the flat land between Troup Head and the opposite south-western height, where the circle of hills commenced. All the buildings were of tho wooden bungalow type, and included a retort and boiler house, manager's home and office, laboratory, store, kitchen, and two bunk houses.

The company's plant comprised trucks and rails, a reservoir and pipe lino, winches, boilers, and retortsthe latter hot recently in use, owing to an accident involving the loss of a workman.

Thero were four boats, three being surf boats and one a dinghy, which were usually hauled up a concrete skidway at the wharf when not in use. In addition the company had prospecting works in various stages of development, and about 4000 tons of sulphur ore on hand.

The works, plant, etc., destroyed represent an expenditure estimated by Mr. Willoughby at £20.000.