514 Transactions. — Geology. 



appears to be volcanic tufa. Sir James Hector tells me that 

 this is a very interesting rock, being a form of rhyolite con- 

 taining spherulitic grains of pearlite embedded in a rough 

 silicious and feldspathic base, which also contains sparkling 

 grains and subcrystalline groupings of white iron-pyrites. 

 The rock is a most beautiful object under the microscope 

 with a strong direct illumination. 



I also include the following description of his visit, which 

 Mr. Whitcombe gave me verbatim : "I was sent with Cap- 

 tain Cassels on the 20th December, 1894, to report upon 

 Falcon Island. On the 21st, at noon. Falcon Island loomed 

 on western bow, northward ; Tofua and Kao on eastern bow. 

 Boat put off from ship to visit it. Eeport required because 

 one ship had reported its disappearance and another ship had 

 stated its emergence and extension, with discoloured water 

 five miles round. Captain Cassels, Mr. O'Connor, and Bolu- 

 tele (the Premier's clerk) accompanied me. Landing very diffi- 

 cult, as seas dashed up the steep slopes of island. Deep water 

 (40 fathoms) close to island. Discoloured water three to 

 four miles from island caused by detritus from it. Party had 

 to wade and swim to island, taking a rope and leaving a man 

 in boat. Shoals of small 5 ft. to 7 ft. sharks assailed us. 

 Found island covered with coarse black gravel. Water in 

 lagoon very clear, with strong mineral chloride flavour. In 

 one part the soil of the island was red-hot, so much so that it 

 blistered Cassels's and O'Connor's feet. South-east end of 

 island highest part — 50 ft., varying to 20 ft. Circumference 

 of island, four miles. Length, a mile and a half. Tongan 

 Ensign hoisted, and fourteen cocoanut-trees planted. Taken 

 possession of in name of King George II. of Tonga. Its 

 name, Kahekahe Fefine (woman). This island (Falcon) 

 sprang up in 1885. Another island which had sprung up 

 some years previously between Late and Kao the king named 

 Kahekahe Tangata (man)." 



In my scrap-book I find the following extract touching the 

 first appearance of the island: "The intelligence officer of 

 the American warship ' Mohican ' forwards the following to 

 the Press : ' In compliance with instructions received in July 

 from Admiral McCauley, the American corvette "Mohican," 

 Commander Day, made a special trip to an island formed by 

 volcanic action since October last. At a distance of fifteen 

 miles steam could be discerned rising in the air above the 

 formei^ site of the Falcon Shoal. On arriving at the spot the 

 " Mohican " steamed round, taking bearings of its positions, 

 and sketches and photographs of its contour and appearance. 

 The island is of circular shape, 230 ft. high, and a mile and a 

 half wide. It has a steaming crater on the east side. To the 

 extreme west there is a noticeable wreath of smoke. On 



