A WEIRD SPOT.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1925, Page 4

A WEIRD SPOT.

WHITE ISLAND AND ITS VOLCANO. At CKI.ANI). January 0. Although White Island is counted to he one ol the wonders of the wo; Id, and is only thirty-two miles Irom \\ iiakatane, it is .seldom visit'd hy the ordinary sightseer. A party made a trip to the island during the holidays. Leaving Whakatanc m loin o’clock in the morning till were ashore on White Island I>v eight. A party of about, twenty, including several ladies, then Marled explore tins weml region. I .an.line, is mad - on a short stretch o| boulder s'ivwu beach. when Ihe soft murmur el the sen is in strong contrast to the mars of the volcano. The island up to about twenty feet above high tide is of solid black rock. All above that, to a height of about Sllllft, is of a crumbly volcanic nature. There is nothing hut fire-scorched Imulders and debris of all kinds, without the slightest vestige of vegetation, within a radius of half a mile of the raging volcano. Ricking their way over what was once a lake, and which now is a quaking mud Hat, with simmering mud holes and steam jets anil trickles of ladling water and hundreds of rounded mounds, each containing about one hundred tons of half baked rook or rubble under which lie the remains oi fourteen submerged in the eruption of 1915, the party reached the main vent. This is situated half a mile inland and about thirty feet above sea level. No worris eoold accurately describe this volcano. Standing on the brink the visitors looked into a pit about forty feet deep and of similar diameter. Here steam ri.-oes out with a screech and a roar that is deafening,' and rises to a height of from JO!) to dOOOft. At the bottom of the pit is an inenmleseent rock, which glows like a giant furnace. Rising up about ton feet it looks like a great three-headed dragon, with lips turned hack in a perpetual snarl, while out oi its three great glowing throats lire and steam rush with a screeching, rumbling roar, louder than thunder and most weird and unearthly. Several other small vents were visited. where steam brings up boiling sulphur which crystallises on reaching the air until they look like large yellow anthills with a steaming funnel on top. A few of the most venturesome o! the party reached the tar side ot the crater. hut others were driven back hy the choking fumes which drifted across from the bed of boiling sulphur. Several other blow-holes weie seen on this side. Visitors would he wise to give this part a wide berth when the wind is unfavourable.