SCIENTIST FROM HAWAII

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 12

SCIENTIST FROM HAWAII

STUDY IN NEW ZEALAND INTEREST IN THERMAL ACTIVITY For the purpose of stud}' in the thermal and volcanic regions of New Zealand, Dr. Harold T. Stearns, an official of the United States Geological Survey, arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa yesterday from Honolulu. Dr. Stearns, who has been stationed in Hawaii for the past three years, is in charge of geological investigations into volcanic activity in the group. Previously he had spent a number of years in Idaho, which contains a large area that was volcanically Active perhaps not more than 1000 years ago. His visit.-to New Zealand is partly a vacation and partly to gain fresh data upon tho relation between volcanic activity and underground water. Speaking of his work in Hawaii, Dr. Stearns said last evening that large supplies of water were needed for the sugar-cane and other plantations, and these could not be obtained from direct rainfall, because most of the country was very steep and the soil was extremely porous. Plenty of rain fell, but the water was either absorbed or flowed rapidly into the sea. Enormous numbers of wells had been sunk, some of them, to 1000 ft. below sea level, and miles of horizontal tunnels bad been bored to obtain irrigation supplies. The city of Honolulu got all its water in the same way. Constant geological study was needed to keep up with the increasing demand for water, and the effects of volcanic activity of different kinds had also to be investigated. For example, it was now believed that the great>eruption of Kilauea in 1924 was due to a large inflow of water to the base of the volcano, very possibly from the sea. Dr. Stearns said he hoped he would be able to gain some very useful information in the New Zealand thermal region. Professor J. A. Bartrum, of Auckland University College, had already shown him a great deal that was of interest in the volcanic areas near the city. He intended to stay in New Zealand about a month, and would pay a short visit to the South Island.