THE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1527, 3 July 1886, Page 2

THE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS.

On Thursday evening at the meeting of New Zealand Institute Dr Hector, in his address, referred to the recent eruptions in the Hot Lakes district, Numerous tketches taken by Br. Hector, and subsequently enlarged by M> H. M. Gore, diagrams showing the extent of the country affected, and some interesting sketches taken by Mr A. Koch at the time of Dr Hochstetter's visit nearly thirty years ;igo were displayed. Dr. Hector gave a brief accouut of the geological formation of the North Island, and then proceeded to give a graphic and lucid description of the eruption and its effects. Tue matter ejected fell partly as mud on a narrow line extending from Wairoa to Tcpuke, in consequence of the condensation of the steam and dusi-berrng cloud by a cold S.W. wind, which saved Rotorua. There was further a light grej dust, known ns the Tauranga dust, different from the dust deposited fit Hicks' Bay and the dutt at Poverty Bay, besides the deposit covering the country in the immediate vicinity of the focus. The conclusion to be drawn from the eruption was that although on a gigantic scale, it was yet of a simple nature and purely local. No unusual activity beyond that caused by a sudden change of weather fiom a long dry period to cold and rain was observed at Rotorua, Whakarewarewa, Taupo, Takano, and other places. Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngaruhoe were unaffected, and the eruption compeletely disaproved the existence of any underground connection between the different sources of volcanic energy. There was on the whole no ground for anticipating a renewal of the volcanic energy, but what was the circumstance that had broken in upon the long period of rest had etfll to be suggested. It was pointed out that there were no traces of molten lava, and therefore the eruption was merely the much more than the usual development great hydro thermal forces, the conversion of heat aud dispersal of the same through the atmosphere by tue action of water. These ;;occurrences had completely explained the formation of the deep terraces of the Waikato and other similar features, which were hitherto puzzling to the geologists. Colonol McDonnell, writing to a friend in Auckland, states that he visited Karioia station, ufc the foot of Ruapebu mountain, on Sunday week over the Otvbitoko, Although over eigh'y miles in a straight line from Tarawcra, he could see smoke and steam rising from the Tongariro mountain, which appears alt red in shape. It formerly wan perfectly cone shaped. It now looks rough,, and part of the top and one Bide have gone, and he thinks the

top must have caved io, and the mountain has lost one-fourth or one-fifth of its height. Ruapehu was always believed to be extinct, but it shows signs of life, emitting steam, smoke, »mi jets of fire on the north-western slope (the Wang-ioui side). Mr Lawrence Cassen, the district surveyor, was in tbe neighborhood of Ruapehu atthetime of t eTaraweraeruptiou, and confirms the statement that steam lias since ascended from Huapehu. He voa.de the ascent to the summit, and states there is a hot.lake in the old crater, the level of the water being about 400 ft below the top, From this steam rises some hundreds of feet above the mountain, melting and displacing the snow and ice above; which thus contribute to the volume of water in the crater.

The Mayor of Tauranga has written to the Mayor of Cbrietchur'eh in reply to a telegram stating that the persons left absolutely homeless and destitute are MrMcßae and family, Mr H. F. Way and family, Mr Humphries and family, Mrs Hazard '..' two children (widowed), and Mr OB:. !. "ingle man, lost waggon and effects, There are about ten women at Tnuranga who left Ohinemutu in tbe night, and are dependent on charity, but these are well provided for locally. A number of settlers whose farms are' covered with ashes will also need assistance.