164 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Sept. 
The salary list at the outset might include the physicist in charge, an 
assistant for operating the field station, and one or two labourers. Probably 
£1,000 per annum would cover the needs of this budget, but if the esta¬ 
blishment later grew to proportions demanding the whole time of the 
Government geophysicist the salary allotment would have to be increased 
accordingly. This would be dependent on an adjustment of salaries 
between the University and the Government. 
The budget for a modest volcano observatory; then, may be summa¬ 
rized as follows : First year—Buildings, £1,000 ; salaries, £1,000 ; equip¬ 
ment and expenses, £1,000 : total, £3,000. Subsequent years—Salaries, 
£1,000 ; equipment and expenses, £1,000 total, £2,000. 
There is no question but that good work may be done with this money 
in making a beginning, in publishing a small routine record of results, and 
in building up an equipment. Everything depends on the man in charge 
and his devotion to the work and capacity to stimulate others. The 
motive concerns true missionary work in science, and in New Zealand it 
would be in a virgin field where the opportunity for discovery should 
bring its own reward. Once established, the work will demonstrate its 
value and become a permanent part of the scientific output of the nation. 
Physical Study of the Hawaiian Volcanoes. 
The proposal to create a permanent observatory at Kilauea Volcano 
was made in 1909 through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
Richard C. Maclaurin being president. The business men of Honolulu 
accepted the proposition, and an association for volcano research was incor¬ 
porated. The first systematic recording was done in 1911, and in the 
spring of 1912 an observatory building was erected. Thereafter the work 
was continuously in charge of Dr. T. A. Jaggar, who had made the first 
proposal in the capacity of Professor of Geology. In 1919 the Hawaiian 
Volcano Observatory and its staff were taken over by the Federal Govern¬ 
ment, and its monthly Bulletin continued as a publication of the United 
States Weather Bureau. The administration of the observatory is now 
under the chief of that bureau, Hon. C. F. Marvin, himself a seismologist 
of. distinction, and Dr. Jaggar s title has become Volcanologist in charge 
of the Observatory. The Hawaiian Volcano Research Association continues 
its active interest and support, aiming to interest other nations around the 
Pacific, and to furnish funds for special investigations ; its observatory 
buildings are leased to the Government. The staff, other than the 
Volcanologist, includes first assistant, librarian, mechanic, and janitor. 
The programme of physical volcanology as an experimental science 
involves — (1) Volcanologic experiments ; (2) seismometric experiments ; 
(3) systematic and continuous record ; (4) computation of volcanic energy. 
The first two of these furnish method for improvement of the recording, 
and the last is the ultimate goal of the science. There is work for many 
lifetimes of many men in the first three alone. Until there is a world 
volcano service, organized like the international astronomic and geodetic 
services, the science of the earth’s interior will remain largely a blank. 
Some results attained by nine years of work at the Hawaiian Obser¬ 
vatory are summarized in the paragraphs which follow. These epitomize 
the conclusions of an article by the writer now in press, which will shortly 
be published in full. The following definitions will serve to make intel¬ 
ligible the terms used : “ Hypomagma ” is the under-magma with gases 
in solution ; “ pyromagma ” is the liquid or vesiculate lava of surface pools 
and flows at an active volcano ; “ epimagma ” is the residue of pyromagma 
which has lost its gas completely, leaving a “ dead ” scoriaceous product; 
