LAKE WAIATARUA.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 255, 28 October 1929, Page 3

LAKE WAIATARUA.

A SCHEME THAT FAILED

WATER BACK AT OLD LEVEL,

Many people with an eye for the beautiful who have often been impressed bv the wonderful moonlight effects on Lake Waiatarua, no doubt regretted the decision of the City Council to lowei the level of the water considerably in order to provide another playing area "Man proposes"—but apparently there are occasions -when nature does no. accept the proposal. The level was duly lowered in the lake until it looked more like a mud flat than a sheet of water, and the seagulls assembled in hundreds seeking what they could devour. It was then discovered that the mud was not safe to walk upon and notice boards were erected at various points warning people of the danger. Boring was done to ascertain the depth of the mud, and that it must be considerable is proved by the fact that this week the water has been let back to its old level once more. This may mean that the only lake within the boundaries of Auckland city will not be interfered with in the future.

Meanwhile, under the loan to provide work for the unemployed, about £13,000 has been spent on the formation of a road right round the lake, which should provide a nice drive wor those who own motor cars during the summer months, but unless the drive is metalled it will be of little use ip wet weather, added to which is may soon be overrun by gorse and blackberry once again.

According to Dr. Hocks tetter, Lake Waiatarua came into existence when one of Auckland's youngest volcanoes, Maungarie (Mount Wellington), Panmure, forced its way to the surface through what was then an arm of the sea similar to Manukau Harbour. The great Austrian geologist states in his book that formerly a ravine ran from the ridge near St. John's College, Tamaki, right down to Onehunga, and that it was heavily wooded. When the volcano came into existence a flow of lava burned off the bush and deposited a barrier across the valley. It was this lava flow that, by damming back the water, formed Lake Waiatarua. That trees once grew there is shown by the fact that in cutting channels to drain the flat land surrounding the lake huge roots of trees were met with, and many cartloads of wood were subsequently sold to residents in that vicinity.