PRACTICAL.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7158, 20 September 1888, Page 6

PRACTICAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF TH& PRESS. Sir,—Talent and science having had their say, can you grant mc a small portion of your valuable space to assert a practical point of view. I went to the Hanmer Plains in 1860, and have had an intimate acquaintance with that locality ever since. From early training in the Old Country I have ever risen with the dawn and usually saw a larare volume of, steam ascending from the hot springs. I' am writing of the time before the Government ornamented and beautified those charming baths. At that period the springs extended over an area of about four acres. There were ten large springs and hundreds of smaller bubble holes. One very large gas escape near the favorite spring, together with all the minor holes, have since been cohered over witn feet of earth. Toe principal springs were converted into two wooden tanks, now only allowing two sorings to remain in their natural state. I contend that this pneess of civilisation has had the effect of preventing the steam and gas from establishing its natural liberty. I would suggest, by way of illustration, to those clever people who will, in all probability, ridicule my idea, to try a pot of water on a strong fire, and hold the lid in such a way that will prevent the steam from escaping. Of course, it may be aigued that enough steam escapes from the baths, &c.; but what about the gas hole being covered over completely. No rumbling noise was ever heard of in Amuri until soon after the springs were extensivelj improved. I don't believe for a moment that any wave underground was in motion during our earthquake. If such were the case, to illustrate, why should it knock mc over, and leave you unhurt? I don't think any eruption took place near Cannibal Gorge, because at Lake Guyon, which is thirty miles nearer Cannibal Gorge than Hanmer Plains, merely a slisht shock was felt. But I would suggest to those who are anxious for discovery to inspect tbe many boiling springs which are situated in the bush ! above Lake Sumner, and near the head waters of the Hurunui. I have reason to remember those springs. During one of mv trips through that rugged region to i Hofcitika many years ago T was muster- ' ing my cattle out of the bush, my dog pat his foot in the water flowing from one lof these springs, and instantaneously I jumped back howling, having scalded his i foot, and rendered himself useless for the rest of the journey. It is only practicable to find those springs by turning out in the early morning, and for guidance from the steam curling upwards above the dense forest. They extend in numbers over a large area, some being fully a mile apart. If a change has taken place there, it might account for the blasting sound heard by the gentleman at Leslie Hills, who describes it as coming from the direction of Te Koa, that being about the same line. I am satisfied that the thundering noise which caused the shake traversed veins, and did not move in the form of a wave underground.—Yours, Sec, W. Atkinson. ■* Marchmont, 17th September, 18S3,