CoLENSo. — On the Tongariro District, 487 



"It is thus evident that this volcano is still active, although 

 at uncertain periods. Over the floor of the crater, and up 

 aloft along the sides, as well as outside the mountain, sulphur- 

 steam was issuing in all directions, tinging the orifice with 

 yellow crystals of sulphur. The whole crater of Tongariro 

 might be 1,500ft. wide. The loose burnt sides overhanging the 

 floor are gradually falling down, altering the configuration of 

 the summit of the mountain. Upon the floor of the crater 

 there were several thick patches of hardened snow, and at the 

 north side under the cliffs a large wreath of snow, melting 

 from the heat beneath, formed a singular-looking cavern with 

 a scalloped roof as of white marble. The writer spent a niglit 

 inside the crater, and found the air intensely cold till the sun 

 rose high enough in the morning to shine into the crater. 

 Astronomers in scanning the volcanoes of the moon have 

 noticed about the middle of the floor of certain craters a small 

 cone, giving rise to speculation about its cause. Does not 

 Tongariro afford explanation — that, as the volcanic forces 

 exhaust themselves, they give vent to their expiring forces by 

 a small cone? '" 



And this daring action of Mr. Collie's is capped by another, 

 as I view it — that is, his spending a month or so on the 

 barren and volcanic ever-burning White Island, in the Bay of 

 Plenty, in pursuit of his beloved science. Perhaps some of 

 my hearers have not only heard of that exploit, but may also 

 have seen those photographic views which he took while there, 

 some of them highly suitable for illustrating Dore's Dante's 

 "Inferno," and that from truly natural scenes. I may men- 

 tion, for the information of those who may not have heard of 

 it, that when Mr. Collie visited that island in 1877, by a vessel 

 trading between this port and Auckland, it was stipulated that 

 he was to be called for on her return voyage to Napier ; but 

 this could not be done owing to the state of wind and weather 

 — the island also being several miles out of the common 

 course ; and so, instead of being there for only a few days, he 

 and his companion (the same young man who subsequently 

 accompanied him to Tongariro, Mr. F. E. Lys) were prisoners 

 for nearly a month. Fortunately they had taken the pre- 

 caution to carry a month's provisions with them from Napier, 

 and also water in kegs, as there was none on the islet save 

 what might be found in shallow holes in the rocks after rain. 

 When they were rescued their stock of water was nearly 

 exhausted, and, although they had fishing-lines and hooks 

 with them, yet, from the depth of water immediately around 

 the island being very great (" out of soundings," according to 

 the Admiralty survey), they certainly had no prospect of ever 

 catching any fish. 



There being no vegetation on the island, except a little 



