464 Proceedings. 



Abstbact. 



The cleptL. of Lake Hope, in the interior of "White Island, at about fifty 

 yards from the south shore, was found to be about two fathoms, and the 

 soundings appeared to be uniform. The temperature of the lake was 

 110° !F. ; colour, light green. ■ There was very much more water in the lake 

 than when last visited in ISTovember, 1866, which precluded the possibility 

 of reaching the largest steam jets, at the extreme north-west corner of the 

 crater, but it was observed that these steam jets were not nearly so active as 

 in 1866. There was only one mud geyser observable, which was on the 

 south-east margin of the lake, on a slightly elevated bank, the mouth of 

 which was about twelve feet in diameter. The mud was in a very liquid 

 state, quite black looking; the depth obtained was about four feet; the 

 temperature, 200° P. 



The highest point at w^hich steam was seen w^as on the outside of the 

 crater, at the western side of the island, within one hundred yards of the 

 top, or highest peak, of the island. 



The height of the lake, above sea level, appeared to be about fifteen feet. 



There seemed to be no rocks of original formation anywhere. 



The vegetation seen (which could not be got at) was a dense, scrubby, 

 green bush, growing all over the western end of the island. A grass was 

 also observed on an inaccessible rock on the south bank, short, and very 

 green. 



The paper was illustrated by drawings (Plate YIIL), diagrams, and 

 specimens. 



List of specimens obtained : — 



(1.) Sand, found on the sea beach between large boulders of con- 

 glomerate. 



(2.) Mud, brought up by hand-lead, from the depth of four feet, while 

 the geyser w^as in an active state of ebullition. This is the mud geyser 

 before described. A bottle of the liquid mud, sealed up on the spot, also 

 accompanied this. 



(3.) Mud, from a steam jet (temp. 215° F.) at the south-west side of 

 the lake, about 200 yards distant from it. 



(4.) Dried surface mud, between the south beach and the lake. 



(5.) Crust of feathery crystals, taken from the dry bed of a water- 

 course, where at one time water had run from geysers to the lake itself, in a 

 north-Avest direction, and appeared to be of rather recent formation. 



(6.) Bottle of lake water, taken at a temperature of 110° F. 



"With, several other specimens of no great value. 



Dr. Hector explained that the paper had been furnished by Dr. Eolston 

 and Lieut. Edwin, in answer to a request made by him when he heard that 



