Abstract.
The depth 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 November, 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° F.
The highest point at which steam was seen was 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 VIII.), diagrams, and specimens.
List of specimens obtained:—
(1.) Sand, found on the sea beach between large boulders of conglomerate.
(2.) Mud, brought up by hand-lead, from the depth of four feet, while the geyser was 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 watercourse, where at one time water had run from geysers to the lake itself, in a north-west 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. Rolston and Lieut. Edwin, in answer to a request made by him when he heard that
