VOLCANOLOGY.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1920, Page 3

VOLCANOLOGY.

AN EXPERT’S VIEW

WELLINGTON, May 25

The importance of appointing a vol- ' eanist for New Zealand is strongly ad- • vacated by l)r Jaggnrd, of Volcano House, Hawaii, who is world famous 1 for his researches. This interesting I science is almost in its infancy; yet, with the facts known the disaster at ; Martinique, when St. Pierre, with its J population of some 30,000 was blotted I out with a blast from the volcano of I Mont Pole, could have been obviated. I Of the whole population, only two peoj pie were found alive, rod one of these j a woman, died from her burns. 'Die I man, who lived, was in a prison, though I lie, also, was badly burned with the hot : ashes that found their way into his ~01l through a ventilator. In Japan through the better knowledge of vocanology, the whole population of a city of many thousands of people were conveyed to a phice of safety before a volcanic operation on a grand scale occurred. Hut i for the premonitory symptoms recognised by the Japanese, who have made a close study of the science, there would have been terrible loss of life. As it was, only some eighty people lost their lives. Some day in New Zealand a similar eruption may occur. We have had one such eruption in this country within recent years. Fortunately, it was in a. sparsely peopled district, but there is no saying when such another eruption may occur at, say, Rotorua, "or even j

j in the vicinity of Auckland itself, where I there were numerous 'craters and the ex j tinet volcano of Rangitoto, Such vol- | canoes have a ha-hit. of breaking out I after lengthy periods of quiescence. Apart from the scientific aspect of the question , the safety of the people demands that we slujl give some attention to volcanology in the active bolt that lies across the North Island and stretches northward into the Pacific Ocean. Dr Jaggard is strongly of opinion that something should/ be done and the sooner the better. A start could -bojnado in quite a. small way in the vicinty of the active volcano of Ngaimihoe, or, still (better, in the Waimnngu region, l which is more accessible and an equally interesting centre of activity. The man required for the job is a physicist. The study of geo-physics is a fascinating one. and perhaps, in one of our universities, some young man could be found who would make it bis life work. Dr -laggard would, no doubt give every possible assistance.