THERMAL ACTIVITY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 53, 4 March 1913, Page 2

THERMAL ACTIVITY.

NEW ZEALAND BORN OF THE SEA. M PROFESSOR’S REASSURING ' CONCLUSIONS. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, March 3. Professor Percival, of the Freiburg University, who came to New Zealand to study thermal activity, stated that comparatively recently, judged by geological periods, New Zealand was raised from the bottom of the sea. Evidence of this could he adduced fropi the fact that there can now he found on Mt. Eden shells of living specimens. This upheaval of ocean’s bottom, he said, took place probably in what is known as the pliocene period. At that time the long lost continent of Atlantis - was -jn existence; the Isthmus of Panama did not exist, and North and ' Sdiith America were separate islands. All the evidence pointed to the fact' 'that the numerous scattered islands, such as Easter Island, with its wonderful stone figures, must have been part of one continent, for, otherwise, •‘tire'inhabitants cbuld not have gained their architectural knowledge. Owing to some volcanic 'activity, the centre o£ 1 which it was impossible’to i race, this' continent was submerged and New Zealand raised above the surface of the ocean. For some little time numerous volcanoes in 'tlVc 1 di.sti ; idt "luidbeM active, but' gradually they became quiescent. The conclusions as far as New Zealand 'is concerned, are decidedly reassuring:” Ho sayh -that volcanic activity throughout the world is on the decrease. Volcanic belts’ tend to become less and: Jess active as time goes on, quiescence starting from the ends of the belts towards the centre. As Auckland is on the very extremity of New Zealand’s volcanic area, it is extremely unlikely that any further disturbance will be experienced.