A “MYSTERY” ISLAND.

Shannon News, 27 May 1924, Page 1

A “MYSTERY” ISLAND.

IUCH IN PHOSPHATES. Very few people in New Zealand have heard of Walpole Island. Jni'ormalion concerning this small but very interesting member of the New Caledonian! group was given to the large audience which attended a meeting of the Philosophical Institute at Canterbury College. .Mr. A. M. Wright, who lias recently visited the island, drew attention to the fact that we have, within* 100 miles of Auckland, an island which is rich in phosphate guano. In fact, it contains our nearest available supply of this excellent plant food, the value of which is* increased by its solubility. Considerable mystery is attached to the formation or the island. Its area of 300 acres is in the shape of a narrow table, and its highest point is 2;>( feet. It appears to be perched on a mass of coral on the top of a submarine mountain peak, but there is doubt as to whether it rose out of the sea or whether the sea fell away from it. There are several layers of coral reefs, and in the cavities of these lies the guano, form'd mainly from the droppings of the dead bodies of birds. The outstanding feature of those phos. phates is the presence of iron and alu. minium; the main constituents, however, ar e calcium phosphate and cal* cium oxide.

The vegetation of the bland consists of stunted trees mixed with denst undergrowth, but a kind of cabbage tree, the banyon tree ami coco-nut palms are found here and there. Numbered among the specimens of animal life on‘Walpole are bos’n birds, small snakes of doubtful poisoning capabilities, angora goats, flying foxes pigeons, centipedes, sea urchins of huge sizes, and large numbers of tiny lizards. Pigs are kept by the natives for food.

Professor Speight, commenting on Mr. Wright’s analysis of the guano phosphate, expressed a hope that that gentleman would continue his investigations, because they would- attract attention throughout the geological world.

Mr. It. B. Black, direcor of the Austral Guano Company, who, is at present visiting New Zealand, stated that they were only too pleased to have scientists with .them, and he gave assurance that anyone visiting the place would find a warm welcome. -Professor A, Wall, who has recently been procuring* for the botanical world a .rare, collection of. high altitude plants gave an interesting* account of h;s excursions in- the Nelson, Kaiko.ura and Mount. Cook regions of Ne\v -Zealand. He slates that in the mountains round about Mount Cook numbers of the veronica and myosotis lamiliCs grow at an altitude of 9000 ft. Probably the highest, growing flower in the Dominion is one named after the famous guide,' Peter Graham. This specimen lias been found at an altitude of 9100 .feet.

The chairman, Mr. H. M. Godby, announccd that H. M. -S. Laburnum and ,1-f. M. S. Veronica laid undertaken to (•arry a limited number of scientists around the Tongan group of tlie South Sea. Islands.