EXPLORATIONS BY PROFESSOR.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6492, 14 July 1886, Page 3

EXPLORATIONS BY PROFESSOR.

HUTTON AND MB. BOSCAWEN. """ . AUCKLAND, July 4.

Mr Hugh Boßcawen, the artist attached to the Surveyor-General's department, has brought down with him a case, about a foot Bquare, of mud procured for him by Lundxn, from Wairoa. It weighß something like 40lbs. He has also some volcanic Jtombe or "fire balls," .from the top of Mcßae'e Hotel. He went back from Botorua on June 29th, when the weather cleared; and explored the earthquake flat, finding a crater. Captain Hutton joined him, and they went over the ground again; On closely examining the crater they, found traces of ash on the land Blips or layers, caused by earthquakes in former times of a similar character to that sow ejected from the' Botomahana craters; showing that the present eruption is not the first Professor Hutton and Mr Boscawen explored together the whole o? the Botomahana craters. They went tip the hill at the back of the pink terrace, but were some distance from its supposed site; The whole country behind the pink terrace for some distance is falling in and dangerous. The earthquakes in the vicinity of the craters are becoming milder and less frequent Such was the force of the wind on the ridge thai they had' to crawl on their hands and knees to make any prov grees. They found by digging that the layer of ash was sft deep, and the stones at the bottom were quite ioV'thpujgh thrown out on the 10th June. They warmed their handa on them as , a relief in the bitter, cold. Aβ the steam clouds were being blown away from them by: the force of the gale they got a splendid view of the Botomahana crater, and of Tarawera proper. The geyeera were still play ing up, throwing mud all over Lake Botomahana, but have ceas d throwing up etonee. There appears to be about three acres of boilintc mud on the lake. If the Terraces exist at all, cays Mr Boscawen, then they are buried in mud, for there is no outside "go, of them so far as he eonld judge. The Tarawera mountain has one vast fUsnre from end to end. Waihangaisaleo cleft clean in two, likewise Buawahia. The principal stones thrown from the craters are rhylotee, and from Tarawera cinders, I which may be the crust of the lava. If there is any lava at Tarawera it is at the bottom of the fissure, not discernible,, They did not leave the. field till dark, and failed to see any fire in the crater. Mr Boscawenknowß nothing about the late reported eruption and rambling, &c, at Tarawera. No such eruption was noticed, by him, and he is• inclined to regard tiie report as baseless. The record of the rise and fall of Lake Botorua has been kept since the eruption, also a self-registering barometer < and a diagram showing - the various earthquakes and' earth . tremors, j The heaviest recorded was between 4 and 5 a.m. on the morning of the eruption. A register has been kept of the remarkable rise in the temperature of Madame Bachel's bath at Botorua, Jrom the day of the erup-" tioD, and the increase of temperature? yesterday was the highest yet recorded. ; It is stated that the disturbances atthe, south end of Botoiti have been exaggerated. The Bigns are no more alarming than o'ber signs of 'increased activity' observed in the springs and geysers of the district . .