Aiicklcmd InstiUUe. 669 



Napier with the " Hinemoa," instructing him to proceed at once to the 

 island, and report as to its condition. This he did, and found the lake 

 perfectly dry. He was ahle to walk across the floor without the slightest 

 difficulty. But within two months the lake filled again, and resumed its 

 ordinary appearance and temperature. 



During the following seven years, 1879-86, the island was regu- 

 larly visited by Captain Fairchild, who always found the crater filled 

 with water. On three occasions he crossed it in a dingy which was 

 dragged to the lake from the landing-place by his sailors. 



In June, 1886, a few days after the eruption of Tarawera, White 

 Island became unusually active, and the crater again became dry. The 

 steam-jets surrounding the crater were unusually active for many months 

 after the eruption. About six months after the eru^Jtion, Captain Fair- 

 child visited a large one situated at the head of the lake. He was 

 accompanied by Mr. Lodder and others. The steam-vent was then emit- 

 ting what appeared to be intensely bright-red flames, which rose to a 

 height of at least 12ft. above the mouth of the vent. The party ap- 

 proached sufficiently near to throw stones down the vent. 



Prom the time of the eruption of Tarawera until the middle of 1893 

 the lake remained perfectly dry. During this period it was visited every 

 three months by Captain Fairchild, or whenever the " Hinemoa " passed 

 the island in the performance of the regular lighthouse duties. On none 

 of these visits did he find any signs of the crater having been filled with 

 water. He was therefore much surprised on landing on the island a few 

 weeks ago to find the lake again filled, and presenting an appearance 

 exactly similar to what it did over twenty years ago. 



There is very little thermal action going on at the present time. The 

 water of the lake was boiling in one or two places, and some of the hot 

 springs and steam-vents near the sides of the crater were feebly active. 

 But, as a whole, the island was remarkably quiescent. Since the time of 

 his previous visit huge landslips had taken place on the sides of the 

 crater, many thousands of tons of material having been brought down ; 

 but otherwise there was little sign of any physical changes of importance. 



2. "Notes on the New Zealand Bats," by T. F. Cheese- 

 man, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 218.) 



3. " Why should School-teaching provide only for the 

 Counter or the Desk?" by James Adams, B.A. {Transactions, 

 p. 452.) 



Sixth Meeting: llth September, 1898. 



Professor C. A. M. Pond, President, in the chair. 



The Kev. J. Bates gave a popular lecture on " The Per- 

 sistence of Savagery." 



Seventh Meeting : 9th October, 1893. 



Mr. J. H. Upton in the chair. 



The Eight Eev. W. G. Cowie, D.D., gave a po^jular lecture 

 on " The British Empire in India." 



