ANOTHER VISIT TO BOTOMAHANA.

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

ANOTHER VISIT TO BOTOMAHANA.

BGTOBTJA, Jane 19.

Finding Judge Mair and Mr Bold, Telegraph. Inspector, intended visiting Boton.ihin. to-day, I decided to accompany them. The other members of the party were McKenzie, the lineman, ana Dr. einden. Wβ took the road by Whakarewa, then into the Paeroa rosld, and poshed off •n the old Galatea track, cow partly blocked. Along the route we saw_ oarcasea of horses, which had been overridden and destroyed. Iα the Earthquake Talley we saw a dozen fissures, ranging in length from two chains to half a mile. Along the ranges leading to Wairoa we could see the red clay of the fissures half way down them, looking like a fence for three or four miles. It alao extended couth of the track. At two or three points the fissures were right across the track, and at one or two points on the road huge bouldere were scattered about. Some looked weather worn. We passed Boscawen's camp, late occupied by Mr Smith, Assistant Surveyor General, from which base he is working round the whole of the volcanic system. It is three miles from, the mud glaciere, where shelter and wood can be obtained, but there is no water nearer than several miles. Nearer Botorua on the final ridge overlooking Wairoa we saw two horses picketed half a mile in the mud, which has now developed iato bard dust or sand, two feet deep along which travelling can be made watting in each other's steps. The day had opened with Tain clouds, but at soon the sun shone out, and we had a good vie* of the volcanoes. The scene was almost indescribable for its awfulnes* and grasdeor. To our surprise we saw a new lake formed west of Okoro, tut this may possibly be the drainage of the ranges, also a lakelet on the north some distanco behind the Pink Terrace, mayhap of similar origin. Two men could be discovered & mile down the ranges, toiling up again to their horses. ■Oα ooming nearer we identified them as Mr Boscawen, attached to Survey Department, and Morgan his guide, both of whom we had met previously at an earlier stage of the ernptkm. On ooming nearer both men appeared baked. Boeoawen's first enquiry was—"H*ve you a drop of water," and as I had taken some in a bottle it was at his service, and having quenshed his thirst, Judge flask and 'the luncheon of the party came in aooeptableforall. Mr Boeca wen informed mc that he and Morgan left the camp at daylight and started for the southern volcano, which was now dead, not even emitting •team. It is now in a very dangerous: state through earthquakes, whi-h this morning made fissures on all directions. He and Morgan were on it when they occurred, and he warned us agbisst approaching too near to it. No. 2 was throwing up boulders occasionally through •team clouds; Nos. 3 and 4 were emitting ntwam and mud in esoalL quantities. He stated that he had succeeded in getting a number of sketches. The deposit on the oone «f one of the volcanoes appeared to be in various colored bands like spectroscopic colors. Mr Bosoawen in formed mc he had got to the base of the cose and tucoeeded in getting some specimens of this peculiar stuff. ue Btated that last sight, at Mr Smith's camp, they had some Biiarp shocks, and thought the tent pole woold have come in. Alter giving us tfee beet advica his examination of theground enabled him to tender, he and his guide fell back on the camp tor rest and store., and we pushed on. Ko other party had been overland to thigpoint,aod we simply lifted his trail, going onto a point equidistant from Nos. 1 and 2, and about a quarter of a mile from the extreme •sethernmoetone. The appearance of No. 1, or the dead crater, as far as we could see opposite the face of the crater, save an impressicn like looking at Mcuot Eden. At

the southern cad a huge mound of day wai piled up. Atintervala in the steam cloudfl from No. 3 could be Been hu?e boulders going up in the air, and falling back in the basin again. Nob. 2 and 4 seemed to be, only Bteaming, bat at the Terracea affaire seemed to be lively. Ati various points of our track the face of the eand - field seemed to be pitted as if with smallpox, and these mask* were occasioned by great boulders when thrown up on the night of the eruption and burying themselves inside. The eon broke through the rain clouds, and we got a grand view of Tarawera proper. The huge chasm was clearly seen. There was little activity in the crater, which is bnming and smoking vigorously along the north rim to the summit. The volcanic; action was going on in the face of the ranges towards the Lower KaingarGa Plains. All facing Ariki north of the cleft the slopes seem ecarred by large vertical fiesurep, probably caused by avalanches of mud or sand. Onethingpuzzledusgreatly.,. On the east slope of the Tarawera half way down appeared two Huge patches of white deposit about a mile or two apart, while aU round for miles appeared to be natural forest growth. Mr Bold scanned it with his field-glare, but was unable to determine its character. Some conjectured it was pumice or sand, while others held it was an immense sulphur deposit; and this view was confirmed by Judge Mair, who eaid his brother,Captam Mair, had informed him it was a sulphur deposit. After getting a good view of the scene of the volcanic action the party returned along the track of Mr Boscawen to Okoro. The lake was still placid, as was also the new one, but MaußgawhataMTiftTia adjacent, formerly a burning mountain, looked from its appearance and fire scarred cliffs, as if very little would cause it to make up is. mind to stoke up again. The return to the point where we had picketed our horses was very trying, a strong southerly breeze sending up clouds of dust the footfalls of those in advanoe, and it wa& necessary to tail off. Just as the last of the party were dipping over the range the cloud over crater No. 1 suddenly broke out and became as lively as ever, though Mr Bescawen had never seen it in action daring the whole day. Smoke commenced at the north end of No. 1 and ran to the extreme south end of the huge rent. I can compare the rapidity of the advanoe of the smoke from end to end of the vast fiesuie to nothing but that cf a locomotive with a full head of steam approaching and rawing through a deep railway cutting. Just as we were leaving the last ridge ftotomahana broke oat with fresh vigtr, throwing up a tall black column in the centre of the steam clouds. At duck the party succeeded in getting out at the "Wairoa road just as darkness closed in, and not a moment too aaon, as there would have been dangerof diverguagf rom the track into the laketaa between the track and Whakarewarere. We arrived at Kotorua at six o'clock in the evening.