VOLCANOES IN NEW ZEALAND.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13413, 10 May 1912, Page 3

VOLCANOES IN NEW ZEALAND.

Dr. J. Mackintosh Bell read an interesting paper on "Some New Zealand Volcanoes" before tho Royal Geopv.phi-. cal Society recently. From tho. most remote days of geological time thoy knew of in New Zealand, he said, these ■Southern, Pacific islands had been scarred and burnt by volcanoes and racked and torn by earthquakes. Volcanic fires rose from New Zeahnd's earliest land, and, like beacons, had never throughout tho long ages, save perhaps for brief periods, ceased to glimmer. " Throughout, the longth and breadth of the land they'read, by tho natural features, the record—hero of a gigantic outburst changing completely for broad stretches the configuration of the land; there, of a minor outbreak, leaving but scant evidence of an ovont long since faded from the geological memory. ' Recent volcanic activity had been limited to.the central and northern parts of tho North Island and to iho

islands tying off its coast in tho Bay of Plenty. - ' Referring to the Taupo volcanic zone" ho said that connected with this zone and the name of its most important centre was one of those pleasing Maori legends that showed tho power of observation possessed by tho native mind. On arrival at Maketu, from the ancient racial home of Hawaiki, the great chief, Ngatiroirangi, started off into the interior on a journey of exploration. Desiring to obtain a bettor view of the country than was obtainable from tho forest clad plains, he and his faithful follower, Ngauruhde ascended the highest peak of Tongariro. Whilst on the summit they became numbed by the intense cold, and, afraid of being frozen to death, Ngatiroirangi shouted to his sisters, who lived in White Island, to r,cnd him somo of the fire they had brought from Hawaiki in tho great canoes Pupp and Te Haoto. Shortly afterwards the fire, arriving by way of a subterranean passage, burst forth from the- crest of Tongariro. The fire came just in tkre to save the life of the chief, but the spirit of.the poor Ngau-.ruho-e was-already in''its. flight for "the land-of the great beyond." Hence the hole from which tVo five burst forth was called by the faithful Ngauruhoo. To this day on- this crest and along the whole subterranean passagotho sacred fire still brightly burned..

Speaking of. the. Waimangu geyser, Dr. Bell said that the "shots" from the geyser were gigantic in their proportions. Though accurate data relating to tho measurement of those outbursts wore difficult to obtain, the highest "shot" was said to have ascended to a height of about 1500 feet above the mouth of the geyser, and to have carried a volume of 800 tons. Tho visual effect of tho groat column, as it rose in the sha-pa of a, large cauliflower-like mass, showering mud, sand and boulders back into the water below and even higher up on tho surrounding walls, nnist have been awe-inspiring and wonderful ; while the thunderous roar must have given an infernal sound to this remarkable phenomenon.