LIKE THE FIRING OF HEAVY GUNS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 994, 8 December 1910, Page 4

LIKE THE FIRING OF HEAVY GUNS.

SUPPOSED SUBMARINE EXPLOSIONS* (By Telesraph-Special CorreeDondenU Auckland, December 7. Disturbances which are believed to 'h» submarine explosions have been reported as occurring in the vicinity of Gannet Island, states the Raglan correspondent of the "Herpld." Gannct Island is some miles off tiie coast, between Raglan end Kawhia, and is a rocky islet well tnown to mariners trading between the two ports. Independent observers report theso disturbances as happening with some degree of regularity. The first was noticed about January last, but at tho time littlo attention was paid to tho reports, it being imagined that probably spray dashing on the islet had been responsible. Since then there have been various rumours, but owing to tho sparse-ly-settled nature of the country, Gannet Island could not well be kept under obsorvation. During the past week, however, circumstantial details have come to hand. Noises like the firing of heavy guns are heard, and then the island is enveloped in what appears to be clouds of smoke or steam. .Once or twice large quantities of white, foamy scum have been deposited on the beach, and on one occasion the surface of the water in Raglan harbour was flecked with, scum and foam, evidently brought in on tho tide. A Ruapeike resident who heard the latest recorded explosion about a week ago states that as the cloud of steam which succeeded the disturbance floated into the air and drifted towards the mainland, a small of sulphur was distinctly noticeable in the atmosphere.