Taupo Mcano.

Cromwell Argus, 6 March 1905, Page 3

Taupo Mcano.

(Specially written for The Aaut'g. By J.A.O. About the centre of Te-ika-a-Maui (the fish of Maui), better known as the North Island of New Zealand, ex* [Kinds the fresh-water*sea of Taupo. Bounded on the south by the lofty mountains of Tongariro and Ruapehu, and on the north-east by the Sandv Raingaroa plain, the lake's surface covers nearly 25 miles in length north and south, and about 16 in extreme breadth, so that it covers the large area of 270 miles. A first view of the lake from the Ateamuri Rotorua road i* apt to impress an observer that it is part of the ocean that is thus washing these shores. The Maori pioneers who first built their. carved villages along its sandy margin were evidently impressed with such an idea when they called it Te Moana—meaning the sea. Her* was an ideal place whereon to sail their indespensable canoes, and where venturous warriors could visit opposite shores to raid, plunder, or rub noses with other tribes of their race, who had also taken a fancy to settle by its waters. Taupo Moano—like most other lakes of the North Island—owes its birth to volcanic action, causing depression and retraction of the earth's crust, whereby making hollows and filling up water channels until there was no alternative for the water but to fill to overflowing the depressions thus caused. On the north and west side? Te Moana is bounded by high cliffs, some parts of Ryolite at others of loosely stratified • pumice. I n places these clifls rise vertically to a height of eight hundred feet above the water, and according to soundings half this distance below water line, so that if the lake were to run dry there would be revealed vertical cliffs of a height something over one thousand feet. Taupo township, jpiiet and unobstrusive, dwells on the northern .shores, its bleached weather-board houses scattered about at irregular intervals over sandy soil, so utterly lack in human and organic' matter as to render the cultivation of flowers and vegetables a task that needs no littl* patience.

A little to the west of the township is the outlet, of the lake. It is here where the Waikato river- resumes its course through deep terrace*, valley* l , or between rocky cliffs.

A small steamer moored to a landing at the side of the river is the means of transit from one side of the lake to the other, from Tokano on the Southern shores to Taupo on the Northern, a distance of almost twentyfive miles by water. There are other means of communication between these townships. A road winding' round the eastern shores provides a dry and very dusty route, but withal very interesting, as it leads past steamholes and hot springs in abundance.

At Taupo there is much to be seen on a clear day. the snow-capped volcanic cones of Tongariro and Ruapehu are plainly visible on the Southern .shores, while a short distance down the river is situated the renowned Crow's Nest Geyser and other ones of interest. The Witches' Cauldron, and Paddle Wheel Ben are among the thermal wonders here. At the *' fSpa " too, in whose charge these sights are, there is much to engage a person's attention. la gardens, laid out in neat designs, are numerous buildings providing accommodation for tourists and invalids. Hero are hot water swimming bathe that are a delight, to visit, affording refreshment and relaxation to nianv a wa.y-'w oi'n cyclist.

All old Maori Kianga will) large boards and frieze, carved in tlir most elaborate manner conceivable, foriuf* an appropriate and original dining room. Purnished with table? the interior is capacious enough to seat a hundred persons at meal. Around the inside are representations of the human ligure, carved in the usual mode of Maori Art, each with ite three-pronged hands affectionately clasping its stomach, and tongue protruding on tu its chest, or curling marvellously round its wooden neck, as it' in anticipation of the feast spread before it. Time presses, ;4iid there is still umch to sec however much a person wishes to linger ut each pluuu. There is alwavs .Mime fresh sights of interest, to heckon on until one emerges as from a visii to some imaginary fautnbtie {dace. .