for the year 1886. xiii 



But while the past year has not been characterised by 

 any very startling discovery, it has been rendered notable by 

 physical phenomena of a remarkable and stupendous nature. 

 Firstly, it is stated that the great lake of molten lava at 

 Kilauea, in the Sandwich Islands, has disappeared, and that 

 nothing but a dark and empty chasm is to be seen where 

 once this mighty cauldron seethed and hissed. Then, more 

 recently, we have the tremendous volcanic convulsion in the 

 North Island of New Zealand, a convulsion as unexpected 

 as it was disastrous. It had always been supposed that 

 geysers and terraces indicated the slow dying out of volcanic 

 energy, the tranquil old age that was the immediate precursor 

 of total extinction. Local traditions harmonised with 

 scientific theories in this respect ; when suddenly an explosion 

 takes place, and the whole face of the country is altered. A 

 huge fissure, or chasm, six miles long, and of varying width, 

 almost perfectly straight on one side, while the other 

 is most irregular^ has been formed, while Lake Roto- 

 mahana and the famous terraces have disappeared in 

 its depths. From it rise dense clouds of steam, through 

 which are dimly seen seas of boiling mud far beneath. The 

 whole district for many miles has been covered with a thick 

 layer of dust or mud, destroying all vegetation, and render- 

 ing the country a desert. The phenomenon has been very 

 fully investigated by Dr. Hector, F.R.S., the Director of the 

 Geological Survey of New Zealand, and is pronounced by 

 him to be hydrothermal in its nature — or, in other words, to 

 partake of the character of a most gigantic steam boiler 

 explosion — and the cause is stated to have been the very 

 heavy rains which followed the longest period of drought 

 that had been known for many years. This conclusion has 

 been disputed in some quarters, and we wait anxiously for 

 further particulars, which have been promised. 



In addition to this great explosion, a disastrous earth- 

 quake is reported at Charleston, in the United States, and a 

 volcanic outburst at Tonga, in the South Seas. 



The doctrine of geological authorities that the volcanic 



