VOLCANIC ERUPTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19011, 31 July 1933, Page 8

VOLCANIC ERUPTION.

• ! ,7 v' " ; V-'Y ■ POSSIBLE AT TARAWERA.

WITHIN NEXT 100 YEARS.

AMERICAN GEOLOGIST’S OPINION.

AUCKLAND, Monday

Dr. H. T. Stearns, an American geologist, who has been studying thermal and volcanic activity in New Zealand, left for Honolulu by the Monterey on Saturday. Dr. Stearns, who Is geologist in charge of underground water investigation in the Haiwaiian Islands for the United States Geological Survey, spent several weeks - carrying out a geological examination of the thermal region. He also visited Ngauruhoe and Egmont. As a result of his studies, he strongly advocates the establishment at Rotorua or its neighbourhood of a volcanic observatory properly equipped to register any signs of increasing thermal activity and so make possible the prediction of further eruptions.

“ I was impressed by the fact that many of the hot mountains in the Rotorua district, for instance, Rainbow Mountain, are really active volcanoes, - ’ said Dr. Stearns. “ The fabt is that the geological time record in New Zealand is very short.. You cannot compare it with Egyptian history, nor even with Yellowstone Park, in the United States whose volcanic history is millions of years older than that of New Zealand. Thus in YelloWstone Park it Is impossible now to trace where the lava streams came from, whereas in New Zealand the lava streams are much newer, more easily defined and the volcanic cones are still perfect in shape."■ .•. ’ ■ Ready for Another Outburst. Dr. Stearns added that further isolated outbreaks of a volcanic nature were within the bounds of possibility. “ Anyone who has had a good look at Frying Pan Flat must gain the impression. of, pent-up forces ready at any time for another outburst,” he said. “In fact, I should be inclined to think there , is every possibility 'of another eruption at Tarawera, if not several eruptions, occurring in the next 100 years. “ That Is why I suggest the establishment of a volcanic observatory in the region. Without it, you will have no warning if Tarawera blows up again. It' may . be true to-day that earthquakes cannot be predicted, although science is getting more and more up-to-date as regards seismology, but It Is perfectly possible to predict volcanic eruptions.

A PROFESSOR’B OPINION. ‘ VALUE OF OBSERVATORY. , ' AUCKLAND, Monday. Professor J. A. Bartrum, professor of, geology at Auckland University College, said he was aware that, following explorations at Rotorua, Dr. Stearns was inclined to fear that another eruption might occur as the result of water from the adjacent-lakes being admitted through Assures to the heated rocks beneath. That was the theory' of the Tarawera eruption, and it was impossible to affirm or deny that it might happen again. It should be pointed out, however, that Dr. Stearns did not say that he actually saw portents that would lead him to fear that an eruption was near at hand. His remarks were far more general than that.

As far as a volcanic observatory was concerned, Professor Bartrum said Its value was unquestioned. There were seismographs at • Arapuni and elsewhere, but much more was needed to make the scheme of any practical assistance in' predicting volcanic eruptions.

“ Work that has been accomplished in other countries shows that the imminence of a volcanic eruption can be more pr less determined,” added Professor Bartrum. ‘‘ To neglect the precautions which science now places at our is to be content to live in a fool’s paradise."