THE LOST TERRACES

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 140, 15 June 1936, Page 6

THE LOST TERRACES

From a knowledge of the shores of Rotomahana gained over a period, about 1013, when, as engineer in charge of the Tourist Department launches, engaged on this trip, I passed this spot twice daily. I can state delinitely that there was a bailing spring heavily impregnated with silica discharging at a point about six feet above the then level of the lake (writes Mr. E. C. Fowler). When opportunity offered, the junior guide, Riri Potaka, and myself used to land at this spot and watch the spring boiling and splashing unceasingly. It was the custom to hang about this spring various articles and knicknacks of any kind, and in a few weeks they were petrified with a white layer of silica and disposed of to tourists. Some of these objeete user! to be 011 view at the refreshment rooms at Te Wairoa. The old hard-knocker became a very valuable curio, petrified into an apparently white marble sculpture. This spring, discharging at such a height above what must 'have been the original level of Rotomahana, would indicate the possible location of one of the terraces, and in the event of the formation being intact, or only partly destroyed, would maintain its -eputed , beauty, and even form new terraces. I have ' traversed the area from Waimangu to the highest peak of Tarawera, and from Lakes Tarawera to Rerewliakaltu, and found no sign of terrace fragments, and by that time an enormous amount of erosion had taken place, many of the scours being up to thirty feet deep. Surely some sign should have become exposed had total destruction occurred. Having been associated with Mr. Alf. Warbrick at the period of which I write, and knowing something of his special knowledge of the district, and of that area in particular, I think his scheme is well worthy of suppurt. and a controlled lowering of the lake level and ' sluicing should not be an expensive problem, comparative to the value an asset such an j attraction as the terraces would becoir •.