NEW ZEALAND VOLCANOES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7, 6 May 1912, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND VOLCANOES

Mr. J. Mackintosh Bell read ah interesting paper on "Some New Zealand Volcanoes" before the lloyal Geographical Society last Monday week. U'rom the most remote days of geological time they knew of in New Zealand, he said, these Southern Pacific islands had been scarred and burnt by volcanoes, and racked and torn by earthquakes. Volcanic fires rose from New Zealand's earliest land, and, like beacons, had never throughout the long ages, save perhaps for brief periods, ceased to glimmer. Throughout the length and breadth of the land they read, by the natural features, the record—here of a gigantic outburst, changing completely for broad jstretciies the configuration of the land; there, of a minor outbreak, leaving but scant evidence of an event long since faded from the geological memory. Recent volcanic activity had been limited to the central and northern parts of the North Island, and'to the islands lying off its coast in the Bay of Plenty. .Referring to the Taupo volcanic zone, lie said that connected with this zone and the name of its most important volcanic centre was one of those pleasing Maori legends that showed the power of observation possessed by the native mind. On arrival at Mnketu from the ancient racial home of Hawaika the great chief Ngatiroirangi started off into the interior on a journey of exploration. Desiring to obtain a. better view of the country than was obtainable from the forest-clad plains, be and his faithful follower, Ngaurnhoe, ascended the highest peak of Tongariro. Whilst on the summit they became numbed by the intense cold, and, afraid of being froKon to death, Ngatiroirangi shouted to his sisteis, ivho lived in White Island, to serai him some of the fire they had brought from Hawaika in the great canoes Pupil and Te Iladto., Shortly, afterwards the lire, arriving by way of a subterranean passage, burst forth from the crest of Tongariro. Tho fire came just in time to save the life of the clue!, but the spirit of the poor Ngaiiruhoc was already in its flight for "the land of the great beyond." Hence the hole from which the fire burst forth was called by the faithful "Ngauruhoe." To this day, on this crest am! along the whole subterranean passage, the.sacred fire still brightly hurried. Speaking of the Wairna'ngu geyser, Mr. Bell said that the "shots" from the geyser were gigantic in their proportions. Though accurate data relating to the measurement of these outbursts were difficult to obtain, the highest "shot" was said j to have ascended to a height of about i 1500 ft above the mouth of the geyser, and to have carried a volume of SOD tons. The visual effect of the groai column, as it rose in the shape of a huge cauliUoAvor-liko mass, showering mud, sand and boulders back into the water below and even high lip on the surrounding walls, must have been awe-inspiring and wonderful, while the thunderous roar must have given an | infernal sound to this remarkable phe- I nonunion. j