Thermal Activity

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1923, Page 3

Thermal Activity

MAY BLOW-lIOLK UN WHITE ISLAND. AIT K LAN l>. Jan. I". Tho ivappc-arunee of n large- blow - hole' on Whip- Island. Day of Plenty, wl.i-i was ob-cived by :■ parly ol \i-i----t-irs froin Opotiki on i.’eeember 31st. ha, rc-vivc-d inicrc-st in Ibis ec-ulro ol t •;,!•! 1 1 :c I activity, when- a disastrous Tile curt,-so.indent ol the- "lie-r----aid'' ..lates that the new blow-hole on flu- dav mentioned was playing up in delis,, clouds of steam, and that it soomi'd lo have oleared ilself liv means of a small irupiioii. What is known us Ha. Cri-ut Rio"-hole- was not si active* as it usually is, and il is thought that this may he due lo lienow outlet taking away some ol its power. ft also wax noted that the Great Rloev-hole was throwing our ga = oidv. and with strong pressure. The new I,low-hole i> at the northv esl end of the valley, and is about -_’ii:; , arils I'l em the Great Rlow-liole. The opinion i- expressod that the new millet, which is at Ihe base- of liigli dill's, may e-ause an eruption similai to Hull of 19! I as il oats its way under and undermines the e-lilf foundation. The eruption of September .191 I. resulted in the loss of tin- lives of ten men who were- employed on the island !v ill- New Zealand Sulphur Company. while- damage to the extent oi alio,lt 22,1.11911 was don,- lo the company's works and plant. The old hi,lev-hole- which disappeared in the explosion, and which was situated at tlie base of the north-eastern ,-liff. had always shown l hernia! ac tivity, and shortly before the explosion this activity had been rather more pronounced than usual, although not to tin alarming degree. The opinion was expressed after the disaster that the activity from this blow-hole had passed underneath t,he cliff, which' was 1 (Kifift high, and caused a huge hmelstide. '