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from the island, even when at such a distance that it was below the horizon, 

 and was therefore surprised to observe only a few feeble jets issuing from 

 near the summit of the high ridge on the south side of the island. These jets 

 were emitted in puffs, and were not visible until we were close inshore ; 

 the larger steam jets, which xisually send forth volumes of vapour from the 

 interior of the island, not rising sufficiently high to be seen over the encircling 

 crater wall. I was informed that this quiescence is usual with a high 

 atmospheric pressure, and this view certainly I'eceived confirmation on this 

 occasion, as the barometer was 30 "43 7, which is one of the highest readings yet 

 recorded in New Zealand. 



The south-west side of the island, which is the only aspect I had an oppor- 

 tunity of observing from the seaward, presents a steep furrowed slope, almost 

 precipitou.s in some places, composed evidently of loose incoherent materials, 

 of light grey colour in the upper part, supported along the shore by rugged 

 reefs and cliffs of dark coloured rocks that withstand the encroachment of the 

 waves. These harder rocks thus determine the outline of the island, and from 

 the evident signs of stratification which they show where cut by the ravines, 

 they appear to form a dome or anticline, on which the softer strata have been 

 heaped in steeply sloping beds, as shown in the accompanying Section. The least 

 precipitous part of this slope is covered witb dense vegetation of a dark green 

 colour, probably ISTgaio scrub [Myoporum Icetimi). There is only one beach on 

 this side of the island where it might be possible to land in very calm weather 

 for the purjjose of examining this vegetation, which appears to be quite 

 inaccessible from the usual landing place. This latter is on the south-east side 

 of the island, where thei"e is a wide gap in the crater wall, partially closed 

 however by an isolated hill, that prevents a direct view from the seaward of 

 the amphitheatre and lake that occupies the central area. 



Our landing was effected with some difiiculty on large slippery stones, and 

 as there is no sandy beach or sheltering reef, a very moderate surf from the 

 south-east would suffice to render an approach to the shore impossible. A steep 

 bank of boulders of various kinds of trachytic lava, strewn with driftwood, 

 kelp, and dead shells, extends for a few chains from the sea, beyond which the 

 surface of the interior of the island is formed entirely of tufaceous sinter, or 

 fragments of volcanic I'ocks, cemented by a crust deposited by the evaporation 

 of the water from the hot springs. This surface is absolutely barren, and 

 intersected irregularly by fissures, from which sulphurous and other noxious 

 vapours are exhaled. In some places it is treacherous, and jjerforated by holes, 

 in the bottom of which soft gritty mud may be seen in a state of constant 

 ebullition ; bvit except in the vicinity of such spots, which should be approached 

 with caution, the ground is sufficiently tenacious to bear a person's weight. 



The desolate fiat occupied by these sinter deposits has an extent of about 

 thirty acres, and reaches an elevation of 60 feet above the sea-level, rising 



