LAKE ROTOMAHANA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1360, 10 February 1912, Page 10

LAKE ROTOMAHANA.

UNUSUAL ACTIVITY. In n report furnished recently to tho Minister in Change of Tourist Resorts (Hon. T. Mackenzie), Guide Warbrick, of the Tourist Departnient, describes an unusual thermal .activity which has been noticed recently in Lake Rotomahana. .According to tho report, the lake, was discoloured about tho middle of January, its beautiful opal tint being changed to a muddy yellow. On January 18 the colour had changed to a, lvuddy brown. Passim; the Awarua steaming cliff, the guido noticed fresh activity. The water was circling round and near the surface was very muddy. I'urthe.r along, near tho site of the famous X'ink Terraces, slate-coloured mud was coming to .the surface. "From here," continues (he report, "I took a straight cnjirso down the lake, going along the centre. Wlicn near the island I found that although the depth is about 500 feet, the water was quite warm, whereas tho water round the island has been cold this Inst ten years. 1 now come, to tho conclusion that tho cause of the discolouring of the lake is not far from (he island. I cruised round for some time, and found tint the lake was (|uito warm from the north side of the island to the main land on the north side- of tho lake. 1 then returned to the island and steamed all round it, and up and down the lake, but as the lake was somewhat rough, nothing could be noticed to indicate where the actual spot of fresh activity is going on. I fee! quite certain that the bottom of the lako for a lonetli of about two mile? is now in a siate- of activity, but I do not consider that there is at present any reason for alarm." A RETURN TO NORMA!,. IBj Telegraph—Frees Association.) • • . • Rotorua, Februarv 9. In reference to Guide Wa.rljrick\s report on Lake Rotomahana, the unusual thermal.activity noticed about the middle of January has ceased and the lako is now pr.iolicall.y back to its normal colour .and is regaining greater clarity every dav. Tho only noticeable feature iii the neighbourlp.id (it present is the more than usual activity in (he YVaimangu basin.