president's address. 1105 



much authority that it must be listened to with respectful attention. 

 I cannot however bring myself to accept it as a sufficient explana- 

 tion. The other hypothesis is that of volcanic origin, implying 

 increased heat of deep seated rocks, increased fluidity of their 

 semi-solid magmas, upward movement of lava along faults or lines 

 of least resistance, dislocation of the upper and more solid masses, 

 and steam explosions of the usual type, but not attended by sub- 

 sequent outpouring of lava. This is hardly the time to attempt 

 a discussion of the question ; and I therefore simply subjoin a list 

 of the principal reports and essays, including some which have 

 but an indirect bearing on Tarawera, but which seem to belong 

 as a sort of context to this theme. 



Proc. N.Z. Inst. Vol. XIX.— Ascent of Ruapehu. J. Park, 

 Geol. Surv. Dep. (p. 327). Thermal activity in R. Crater. L. Cussen 

 (p. 374). Causes of Volcanic action. W. L. Travers (p. 331). 

 J. Hardcastle (p. 338). Eruption of Mt. Tarawera. J. A. Pond 

 and S. P. Smith, F.R.G.S. (p. 342). Major W. G. Mair (p. 372). 

 Archdeacon Williams (p. 380). E. P Dumerqne (p. 382). Sir 

 James Hector, Presidential Address (p 462). On traces of former 

 Volcanic Dust Showers about Napier. H. Hill, B.A. (p. 385). 



Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict. Vol. XXIII. — On the official reports of 

 the Tarawera Outbreak, with objections to some of the conclusions 

 drawn by Hector. G. S. Griffiths (p. 117). 



Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.— Notes on the recent eruptions in the 

 Taupo Zone, N.Z., by myself in our Proceedings, series 2, Vol. 1. 

 (pp. 516, 1217). 



J. Martin, F.G.S., writes on the Terraces of Rotomahana^ 

 Q.J.G.S. (Vol. XLIII. p. 165). Captain Hutton, F.G.S. On the 

 Eruption of Mount Tarawera (ib. p. 175). 



In his Presidential Address Sir J. Hector gives a brief notice of 

 a series of soundings taken in the South Pacific by Capt. Barber, 

 of the U.S.A. Exploring ship Enterprise, which tend to confirm 

 Pi-ofessor Hutton's views (in opposition to those of Wallace) as to 

 the existence of a submarine plateau indicative of a former land 

 communication between S. America and New Zealand. 



