470 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



snow and ice-cliffs, proves that it must be affected by some local 

 hot spring ; but Mr. Park, who observed it in January last from 

 the top of Euapehu, reports that it was then frozen over. 



On the 15th of June Ngauruhoe showed no unusual activity, 

 but appeared to be gi^^ng out rather less steam than usual. As 

 for an underground connection between the different sources of 

 volcanic energy, the eruption completely disproves it : because 

 had there been any such connection with the outburst of steam 

 from Eotomahana, what would have been the effect on Whaka- 

 rewarewa ? It would have drained the springs there. As it was, 

 there were no signs of any effect on springs a short distance off. 

 On the whole, he saw no ground for anticipating that we should 

 have any renewal of the volcanic energy. It must have been a 

 very long time since the last outbreak, for it is very plain that 

 the terraces would have been destroyed by it. Now, it has been 

 shown that such terraces in America, but of very much smaller 

 dimensions, must have taken at least 1,000 years to form ; and 

 it may have taken perhaps ten times as long for the White 

 Terrace. What the exact circumstance may be that has broken 

 in on this period of rest, has still to be suggested. 



Art. LXIII. — Economic Antarctic Exjyloration. 

 By C. Teaill (Communicated by T. Kirk, F.L.S.). 



Nearly half a century has elapsed since the Antarctic Expedition, 

 under Sir James Boss, left the shores of England in Her 

 Majesty's ships " Erebus" and " Terror," and the account of the 

 expedition, written by Sir James, is now so seldom met with 

 that to most of my readers it is probably unknown. In putting 

 down some thoughts suggested by reading Eoss's volumes 

 I shall not scruple, therefore, to make free use of notes and 

 extracts taken at the time. 



My chief objects in writing are : (1) to consider whether we 

 in New Zealand might not attempt something in the way of 

 Antarctic exploration, combined with whaling ; and (2) to 

 provolve others, with fuller information and more access to men 

 and books, to take the matter up and clear the way by showing 

 what the difficulties are that have to be faced, how they may 

 best be overcome, and what advantages we may fairly expect to 

 accrue. I hope, also, by dwelling on some interesting features 

 of the South Polar regions, without, however, pretending to 

 write for scientific men, to draw more attention to Eoss's work, 

 as the book seems less known in New Zealand than it ought to 

 be. In his volumes are to be found all that we vet know about 



