644 . Transactio7is . — Geology. 



New Hebrides, have all been recently in eruption. As a 

 consequence of this volcanic activity great fields of pumice 

 have been seen by various navigators, covering large tracts of 

 the Western Pacific to such an extent that ships have been 

 occupied for days in sailing through them ; and subsequent 

 to the eruption in New Britain in 1878 fields of this material 

 were floatmg about amongst the islands for many months, 

 reaching as far to the eastward as the EUice Group. Earth- 

 quakes are of frequent occurrence in the vicinity of New 

 Britain and the Solomon Islands, though, as a rule, they are 

 of moderate character ; while in the southern islands of the 

 New Hebrides Group they sometimes occur. Some slight 

 shocks have been recently (1887) reported from the north- 

 east coast of New Guinea, during which the atmosphere is 

 described as bemg so thick as to give the appearance of dense 

 rain. In 1878 severe shocks of earthquake were experienced 

 over a large area. At Port Resolution, in the Island of Tanna, 

 two shocks occurred, whereby the port as a harbour for large 

 vessels was partially destroyed ; and in the neighbourhood 

 of Lord Howe Islands the barque ' Pacific Slope ' reports 

 having felt a shock on the 3rd March, the vessel at the 

 same time being set by an unusual current 110 miles to the 

 south-south-east." 



I am much indebted to the Admiralty directions for many 

 such extracts in this paper. I consider it well to collect 

 them into one paper, add the remarks of other observers, and 

 include my own observations, in order not only that we may 

 have the whole of the most important earthquake volcanic 

 phenomena of the Pacific before us in the one paper, but 

 also that we may know where to establish seismic stations. 



I hope in a future paper to give a list of dates as a record 

 of what is happening at the present day. 



"With respect to Banks Islands and Santa Cruz, the Banks 

 Islands are all of volcanic origin — Gana (Santa Maria Island), 

 Vanua Levu, Ureparapara (Bligh Island), Valua (Saddle 

 Island), Mota (Sugar-loaf Island), and Merlav (Star Peak 

 Island). Mota and Merlav " rise straight up from considerable 

 depths to well-defined symmetrical cones 1,350 ft. to 2,900 ft. 

 high. Ureparapara is simply the unsubmerged portion of a 

 large crater with the eastern face blown out, forming a fine 

 harbour therein." Vanua Lava, Gana, and Ureparapara still 

 exhibit signs of latent activity in the form of fumaroles and 

 sulphur springs. Merlav has long been inactive as a volcano. 

 Mota exhibits distinct signs of upheaval, the volcanic portion 

 of the island resting on a base of madrepore (fossil coral). 

 The summit of the volcanic range running through Vanua 

 Levu frequently emits columns of steam. The sulphur springs, 

 fumaroles, and solfataras are on the west side of the Gana 



