THE TRIP TO ROTORUA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 107, 6 May 1913, Page 5

THE TRIP TO ROTORUA.

EXPLORING THE THERMAL REGIONS. OFFICERS AND .MEN DELIGHTED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) EOTOKUA, Monday. TJbe large party of officers and nienj>f H.M.s. New Zealand, who arrived from Auckland yesterday, met "with beautifully fine weather for their excursion through the thermal regions to-day. The route chosen was what is known, as the "round trip"—from Rotorua to the Waimangu geyser valley, thence across Lakes Rotomahana and Tarawera, and back along bhe W-airoa Road to Rotorua. The sailors, who were accommodated in 'brakee, were divided into two parties, each going the reverse way to the other. The parties left the town at 8.15, and the officers, -who were conveyed in motor cars, an hour later. The journey across the lafes, -which were as smooth as glass, was keenly enjoyed by the whole party, the va-pour-covered cliffs ou the north shore of Lake Rotomahana coming in for a great deal of comment. At Waimangu the parties were shown the great cauldron from which the enormous geyser used once to snoot a thousand feet into the air, and the cliff from which Joseph -War-brick and the (Misses Niehol were swept to- death in. the 'boiling pool below. After lunch, Guide Warbrick treated the officers to a graphic description of the Tarawera eruption, as he had seen it, and was afterwards, thanked 3jy the officers for. his stirring account. Along .the route the various relics of tbc great eruption were pointed oat. much to the interest of the party. The eailors made many appreciative remarks irpon the growth of hush and ferns along parts of the road. Generous hampers of provisions were provided for lunch en the way. and the mcn-o'iwa.rsmen did full justice to them. The -parties all reached, town at 5 p.m., well pleased with their trip, which officers and men alike declared to be a unique incident of their long cruise. Ther were entertained in the evening by £he"nat!vca in the meeting house at Ohincmutu. and.to-morrow morning will visit W'ha.karevarewa, leaving by special train at 11 a.m.