MOUNTAINS OF EIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1933, Page 8

MOUNTAINS OF EIRE

FAMOUS HAWAIIAN VOLCANO DESCRIPTION BY SCIENTIST AUCKLAND, June 24 The remarkable activity of Kilatiea, the well-known volcano on the island of Hawaii, was described by Or H. T. Stearns, of the United States Geological Survey, in a lecture last evening under the auspices of the Auckland Institute. The gathering, which win held in the University College Hall, was presided over by Professor H. W. Segar. Excellent cinematograph films illustrated the lecture. Kilauea, said Dr Stearns, was situated on the slopes of the volcano Manna Loa and was one of five volcanoes, some of them extinct, which comprised the island of Hawaii. For a period of 25 years there wag a lava lake in the j crater, Which provided great attraction for tourists, wh 0 could watch the lava splashing to and fro and see the fountains which played from the sur- : face. Unfortunately, since the major explosion of 1924, the lava lake had ceased to exist as formerly, although since 1928 periodic eruptions had provided spectacles for visitors. Prior to the 1924 explosion, when he had tlie good fortune to be present, 1 there had not been a major explosion since 1790. The 1924 explosion was preceded by a cracking of the mountain sides and by more than .3000 earthquakes' in 30 clays. Some of the bursts of rock dngt rose to height of two miles, throw ing pieces of rock weighing 10 tons fob 3000ft.' Lightning played to and fro among the dust clouds in spectacular manner.

With the aid of cinematograph films Dr Stearns described scenes which he witnessed in the creator of Kilauea in 1930 and 1931, when lire fountains played great ‘activity, building up ash bonds about ' 300 ft. high.. These cones, he said were created in the same way as probably were Mount Eden and some of the other cones in Auckland, in the space of a few days. Pictures taken prior to 1924, showing the great activity'of the lava lake, also were screened. Dr Stearns said it seemed that since the explosion the volcano was entering a new- phase, and it was hoped another lava lake would be formed!