[840.] GEOLOGY. 295 



at first grew, under the impetus of speculation, with con- 

 siderable rapidity. Its progress has since been checked to 

 some extent, but it must eventually become quite a town. 

 Eleven miles from the Bay of Islands, up the Waicaddie 

 river, is Waicaddie Pa, probably the largest native town in 

 the islands. It is a neat and cleanly place, and, as might be 

 presumed from this fact, has a prosperous mission estab- 

 lishment. 



Auckland, the capital of New Zealand, is situated on the 

 Waitemata river, which affords it a spacious harbor, in lati- 

 tude 36° 5V 27" S., and longitude 174° 45' 20" E. : it is a 

 thriving town, and contains between two and three thousand 

 inhabitants. The other principal stations are Port Nicholson, 

 which has upwards of five thousand inhabitants, Port Nelson, 

 and New Plymouth. 



(4.) Volcanic phenomena may be witnessed almost every- 

 where in the interior. There is an active volcano on the Bay 

 of Plenty, on the east coast of New Ulster, and at the north- 

 ern extremity of the island there are a great number of coni- 

 cal hills, from three to five hnndred feet high, with small cavi- 

 ties in their tops, which appear to be extinct craters. Cellular 

 lava, and lava in boulders, are abundant. In those districts, 

 too, where these indications of a volcanic origin are more 

 conclusive, there are hot springs, resembling the geysers of 

 Iceland, the waters of some of which rise to the boiling point, 

 and are used by the natives in cooking.* The coasts are 

 lined with dark basaltic rocks, which are worn into various 

 shapes by the constant attrition of the waves. Quantities 

 of pumice stone are found, and it is used by the natives for 

 polishing their spears. Quartz, iron, and iron pyrites, have 

 been discovered imbedded in the soil. Coal is plentiful in the 

 middle island, which also furnishes the green iale, both in 

 lamins and of a loose form, of which the natives make some 



* Ibout fifteen miles west of the Bay of Islands is the hot spring of Taiaimi 

 a bich is said to '.. • an emission of heated gas buhhling up through '.tie water 

 and t! is giving tlie latter a boiling appearance. Sulphur is abundant in the 

 vicinity and a slight crust of alu n is formed. The. water is stronglv impreg- 

 nated with iron. The gas his no smell neither is it inflammable. 



