WHITE ISLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19216, 4 January 1926, Page 10

WHITE ISLAND

THE camp of the workers, PROTECTING WALL OF CLIFF. A STUDY IN CONTRASTS. BY JOHN WILLIAMS. No. in. Tho permanent camp of the White Island Agricultural Chemical Company, Ltd., where the men l.ve, is ( as has been stated, one to two miles from the activity of the crater area along the southern coast of tho island. Here, in the perfect shelter of pohutukawa groves, an up-to-date camp has been constructed. It is positively isolated from and danger or activity of the crater. Between it and the activity is a massive rock wall soaring lo the height of 1000 ft. and in the event of a severe earthquake, the ro\.ky heights are held together by the binding roots of the luxurious pohutukawas. This abrupt wall may be likened to the division between two independent worlds. On one side of the rocky slope the camp site nestles in the glory of Nature—uninterrupted and unsurpassed marine views, flaming pohutukawa groves, blue waters of the bay. screeching seagulls and gannets, while imported poultry, pigs and hheep strut and lounge about in this untarnished haven. The native bird life serenely ignores the ungainly importations, somo subtle effect of nature evi- , dently creating peace between these civilised and uncivilised creatures. Climbing away above this peaceful world, and peering over the separating cliff, one is immediately confronted with an entirely new and unbelievable world—literally, the passionate side to nature. In her relentless, unforgiving way, she has destroyed every vestige of life. She has surrounded herself, closed herself in by circling, towering walls, and in this seclusion, nature ceases controlling herself and just abandons to every passion. Like some sinister Jekyll and Hyde, on one side of the crater walls nature entices and attracts with a glamour about the pohutukawa groves, but on the other side, cloaked behind the barren walls, her passions are exposed. From the blowhole in the centre of tho crator floor, she roars forth warning of her implacable might, and, about this vital spot of her activity, she has a system of lesser 6team vents and other minor activities belching forth poison gas fumes, a system of barbed-wire entanglements, as it were, placed to retard any outside interference with her unbridled passions. Awe-inspiring and Vast. Nowhere is thoro a living thing. Nature has overcome and tainted everything within the boundary of tho crator walls. It is awe-inspiring, vast, unbelievable. Its might overwhelms the imagination. In this perturbed lap of nature, one is stripped bare of civilised veneers and reduced to a. mere atom. Civilisation, with its religions, its mock artificiality, is submerged. And when the crater wall is scaled to return to the pohutukawa groves about the company's camp* with each stop one realises how admirably the separating cliffs protect the side of tho island sheltering living things from tho possibility of any eruption within the crator. Tho company has spared do expense in tho construction and planning of tho camp. Spacious buildings and huts built from heart of kauri have been erected beneath the pohutukawas. Generous allowance has been mado for mess, recreation and sleeping rooms. Shinglajl roofs suggest coolness. A constant susply of live sheep, pigs and hens is maintained. Indeed, in their separate paddock, sustaining upon a grass peculiar to White Island, the. sheep provide well-conditioned mutton. Clucking hens with broods of chickens add a distinct domestic touch to the atmosphere 'of the camp. The gannets on tho adjacent rookeries at first eyed them- with amazement, but now indifferently tolerate the proud strutting mothers with their fluffy broods. v The Wireless Plant. Iho sanitation of the camp is strictly controlled. Tho fresh water supply, at first an expensive item through having to be transported from the mainland in casks, is obtained from a spring located near the camp, Tho water in its natural state has such an excessive percentage of iodine that before use it has to paits through condcnsors. All tho dead and broken branches of tho pohutukawa trees afford an endless supply of excellent firewood. The most interesting spot in tho camp is tho receiving and transmitting wireless plac'o housed in a special hut. Hero communication is made with the mainland three times daily. In tho evenings, to supplement the gramophone, per medium of a loud speaker, concerts from all corners of the earth aro enjoyed by the men. The results of the recent political elections, for instance,, were intercepted and. tho men were actually acquainted with the results before tho provincial towns on the mainland. As notes for tins article were being made, the writer, with head phones acljusted, heard a Sunday evening church service at Taihape. Pittsburgh and Sari Francisco, with their lively jazz bands, were switched in on the sacred inspirations. Many Varieties o! Fish. Many varieties of fish may be captured off-shore from tho camp. ' They are a valuable help to the maintenance of the high food standard. Transport communication between the camp and the workings in the crater area is .made by track in the rare inclement weather, and by boat in tho ordinary course of events. There are three rowboats stationed permanently, while a lifeboat, with power engine, capable of holding tho entire crew of the island, is ready for immediate use. To supplement this, there is tho telephonic communication between the camp and the workings. An up-to-date stock of drugs and casualty dressings is kept under the experienced hand of an ex-army officer. When the industrial sido of the island is proceeding along definite lines the company will cater for tourist traffic. Tho thermal wonders of tho island are unequalled elsewhere in the world, and no pen or camera can do them justice. Bird life ii> prolific. The natural and geological beauties of the island will have their independent appeal to the outdoor lover. Within a mile of the island those denizens of tho dc-op, awordfish and tho several varieties of shark, await anglers. Kingfish, trevalli, hapuka, schnapper, and the lesser predatory fish, abound in huge numbers.