532 Transactions. — Geology. 



number of islands lying between Tonga and Central and 

 South America before we could venture to affirm that any di- 

 rect line of weakness existed between Java and South America 

 via Tonga ; for, although the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755 

 ■was felt across the Atlantic, we know of no line of weakness 

 in that direction, except, of course, in the Azores and Canaries. 

 That earthquake was, as it were, a crust disturbance or wave 

 over 700,000 miles of surface. So that lines of volcanic earth 

 rents or fractures may be purely local, yet subject to sym- 

 pathetic influence from distant disturbances. The question 

 is, Ai-e they so subject ? Another matter is whether a num- 

 ber of seismometic stations established along these three lines 

 I speak of in the Pacific Islands would afford proof of subter- 

 ranean connection. Perhaps the table of dates I propose to 

 submit at a future date may be of some use in determining 

 this question. 



Fearn or Hunter Island lies about 180 miles south-west of 

 Kandavu (Fiji), in longitude 172° 5' E., latitude 22° 24' S. 

 It is a volcanic block, about 974 ft. high, half a mile long, and 

 about one-third of a mile broad. It contains, so I am in- 

 formed, hundreds of tons of sulphur: jets of sulphurous 

 vapours constantly issue from it. There is anchorage there for 

 a 300-ton or 400-ton vessel. From the Wellington Evening 

 Post shipping news of the 30th December, 1895, I take the 

 following extract : — 



" Hunter Island, one of those solitary but slumbering con- 

 necting-links of the great volcanic system that stretches from 

 New Zealand right up to the East Indies, has, after three 

 score years of apparent quietude, again burst forth, and given 

 vent to the terrific subterranean forces that of late years have 

 manifested themselves at similarly situated spots in the South 

 Pacific. The captain of the American barque ' Seminole,' 

 which lately arrived at Sydney from the Pacific Slope, reports, 

 according to the Sydney News, passing the island in question 

 on the 24th November and witnessing a magnificent spectacle. 

 From two craters on the east side of the island, which at 

 times was enveloped in sulphurous smoke and debris, large 

 streams of lava poured down its mountainous side. The 

 * Seminole ' passed within a mile and a half of the spot, but 

 no trace of life could be seen. Hunter Island, however, has 

 never been inhabited within the knowledge of man. It was 

 discovered nearly a century ago, and is situated nearly midway 

 between Norfolk Island and Fiji. At all times for the past ninety 

 years thin smoke has ascended from the various points along its 

 monotonously savage-looking sides. As long ago as 1835 the 

 island burst out and shot forth a huge pillar of flame and molten 

 lava, which ran down its side hissing to the sea. Since then, 

 however, its hidden forces appear to have lain dormant." 



