LAKE TAUPO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 16

LAKE TAUPO.

. CHANGING LEVELS. ■ EFFECT OF HIGH WATER. FLOODING OP FARM LAND. Although a high level of Lake Taupo is desired in the interest* of hydroelectric*! supply,' it is claimed that a low lake level is beneficial in the Taupo district, to prevent flooding of land on the shore of the lake, which lia« value for fanning purpose*. Recently the chairman of the Auckland Klect tic Power Hoard, Mr. S. J. Harhiitt, was reported as having stated that the level of Luke Taupo this vear hud I teen lower than could he remembered by the oldest Maoris in the (list riot. A correspondent, at Tokaanu, has written to the "Auckland Star" stating that the fa.ct that Lake Toupo is going down to its old level is important to Maori owners of land round the lake shore*, because it enables them to recultivate some of the fineet land in New Zealand, which since 192tl has been covered with water. In the years 1920 to 1922, milking cows were grazed on that land, and thus year it has again been dry enough to farm. .Tim low level period in 1!>21 coincided with the catching of the largest trout, both in the lake, and in the Tongariro liiver, which enters it. The correspondent points out that I -'ike Taupo has an area of 241 square miles, with an average depth of thirty fathom**, and consider* that if anv scheme were carried out to raiee the lake-level for the benefit of electrical supplies, there would be corresponding flooding of first-class land on the lake shores, fie states that when the Arapuni hydro scheme was submitted to Parliament the Hon. K. Semple (then in opposition) advocated the tapping by tunnel of the lake, which was a natural reservoir. The correspondent add* that the level of the lake, as recorded on the gauge at Tokaanu wharf on April 22 of this year, was 1.05 feet, and gives figures to show the lowest and highest readings recorded between the years 1900 and 1920. The lowest reading was recorded

ill 1914, when the figures were feet, and the highest in 1909, when the figures were O.SW feet.