SOME SCIENTIFIC OPINIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 30

SOME SCIENTIFIC OPINIONS.

AUCKLAND, December 3. Mr J. A. Pond. Government analyst, wko about 30 year? ago was part owner of Whale Island, and resided there for a few v.eeks. inform* a Herald ifeporter that the phenomena observable on the i&land are probably due to clouds of dust caused by a hugo lanctalip on the eastern side of the island. When he resided on the I island, übmit 30 year*, ago. there w^re. he Rayt, evidencas that ..such slips had occuned inior to that time. These aliu*

The said, might be due to the earthquakes at Whakataae. " To assume that the Whale Island eruption, is a preliminary to a greater catastrophe is, perhaps, an unnecessary alarmist view, but the circumstances, nevertheless, warrant serions attention being paid to any further development." This was the opinion expressed by Professor A. W. P. Thomas -wJhen interviewed "this •morning by a Star representative. Braririma Bocks and Whale Island, Professor Thomas points out, are between four and five miles apart, and they lie almost in a direct line between -Ruaspebju, Tarawera, rod White Island, all of which «s th» main linß of volcanic activity in -the J£orth Island. All deductions, he stated, have to be based upon the accuracy of the newspaper reports, since that is the only information available to work upon. The professor regards the statement emanating from some fisherman to the effect that a large crevice has appeared in the seaward wall of the island a£ one of very .great importance. Presuming that there 'has actually appeared such a fissrae, it Bright possibly be a prelude to a -volcanic eruption. "We -have no right to assume that volcanic activity has ceased, or that it is dying out," the profess©* declared. "Xo my „ anind the indicait««fc /may fee interpreted • in. two ways. HOiLsc the «ea -water <ba& obtained access to the heated volcanic -rocks which undoubtedly exist below, and 1 the -volcanic steam -preEßure has accumulated until it has produced this fissure, or else *we may have a stage in volcanic development along the main line of activity with a fresh supply of lav& working its way to the surface. In such a ease a volcanic explosion may ensue, such as that •which occurred at Tarawera. At present the -evidence before tjs is insufficient^, to say whether the phenomenon is comparatively a minor one, and will qukkly subside, or whether a more serious even*' is likely to occur. If I lived -on Whale Island and had the opportunity of investigating -and forming my own conclusions, I would speak more and in such case if I found serious clouds of steam issuing from a recently-created nssure, I would inetantly remove my wife and family to the mainland, and then, return to watch events. The position on the ifiknd at present is very interesting and "worthy of very close attention. It is hardly possible to suppose that the statements made are without foundation. The more"' conservative attitude to take -np is that it is a minor phenomenon due to the escape of steam from heated rocks, but on the other hand developments of a more serious nature may occur. 'Referring to the report that yellow •clou'ls of. sulphur are rising from the island, the professor remarked that this was hardly feasible. Sulphur clouds would be yMte, and what has actually I>een seen is, m his opinion, dust. It is also pointed) -out by Professor Thomas that at the time of the Tarawera eruption, apart from the loss of human life and the damage to property, the country to the extent of over 6000 equare males was covered with fine ash, two-thirds of it being over an inch thick. After the Tarawera eruption the professor visited Whakatane, and the ash deposit there was two inches deep. Whether any permanent harm was done by the ash it is difficult to- say. If a volcanic explosion of serious intensity occurred at "Whale Island, a norfch-east wind would probably bring quantities of ash to the mainland, but the damage likely to ensue in that way would not, he thinks, amount to anything serious. In any case, Professor Thomas says, the more hopeful view to take is that the worst of the seismic activity, is over, and that even in th,3 ©vent of an eruption on Whale Island no great injury to the mainland need be I anticipated.