Pond and Smith. — On the Eruption of Mt. Tarawera. 861 



Judd, which, issuing from a vent or vents below in a viscid 

 state, swell up in a somewhat rounded mass without forming a 

 crater. Of this description is the well-known Grand Puy of 

 Sarcouci, in France, and numbers of others in various parts 

 of the world. The cracked and fissured surface of these moun- 

 tains would then be accounted for by cooling from a state of 

 considerable tension. 



That a great change has taken place in the mountain top is 

 obvious. The glass shows clearly that Ruawahia and Tarawera 

 (both of these names being on the same plateau — the latter 

 being the name of the southern end,) have been apparently rent 

 along their whole length, and some of the little peaks along 

 this rent appear to be the result of solid materials ejected from 

 below, and built up by stratified layers of scoria or stone having 

 the outward dip common to volcanoes. Smoke was rismg from 

 several points for a distance of a mile and a half, but not in any 

 great quantity, though occasionally it increased in volume, 

 sending a dark black cloud high into the air. The surface of 

 the ground on top was coloured a yellowish-green for many 

 acres, denoting the presence probably of ferric chloride, whilst 

 all the original fissures appeared to have been filled up to one 

 general slope by the materials ejected. It is as yet premature 

 to make any definite statement as to whether the mountain is 

 higher than it formerly was — namely, 8,606 feet ; but it cer- 

 tainly has that appearance, and the evidence of sketches and 

 photographs tends in the same direction. We believe that when 

 the mountain can be approached sufficiently near it will be 

 found that a true crater has been formed on the north-east side 

 of it.* 



In general appearance Wahanga seems to have altered, but 

 not to so great a degree as Ruawahia. Smoke issues in smaller 

 quantities from several places on its summit, but principally 

 from the highest point. It also is covered with a mantle of 

 ashes and stone ejected from one of the vents. t 



Dr. Hector, in his report J on the eruption, has given some 

 slight weight to the significance of these three names as bearing 

 on the question of former activity, of which, however, no tradi- 

 tion exists among the Maoris ; but we think no value can be 

 attached to this argument when it is known that each name has 

 another interpretation ; and we cannot think that the obvious 



* The height of Kuawahia since obtained is 3,770 feet, showing an 

 increase in height of about 170 feet. This is caused by the black and red 

 vesicular scoria piled along the edges of the great fissure. 



t The great fissure is found to extend along the eastern face of 

 "Wahanga nearly to its northern end, and in it are two deep craters, one of 

 them being the deepest of any along the whole line. 



t " Preliminary Keport on the Volcanic Eruptions at Tarawera on 10th 

 June," dated 23rd June. Appendix, Jour. H. of E„ 1886. 



