A REMARKABLE SIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 12, 14 July 1922, Page 6

A REMARKABLE SIGHT

In the course of,his Tpcture, -Professor Marsden referred to a phenomenon in the area between the observed " faults " north of Lake Taupo, as evidence of great pressure due to the earth-move-ments. This was the appearance on the ground of pools of water and sand, a few inches deep, and up to 15ft in diameter, the result -of water being forced up from below. A subsequent speaker recalled that at the time of the great Wellington earthquake a ," mud fountain " broke out at the foot of Boulcottstreet and discharged.- a large quantity of sand.

It appears from a report from the Taupo correspondent of the Auckland Herald that there was an extraordinary display of these fountains iji the same region (Whakaipo Bay) last week. Writing from Taupp PU Tuesday, the correspondent says that two local residents were out pig-hunting on Friday, and just after reaching the spot, about four miles from Taupo, where the fault crosses the track, they felt a sharp shock, which was widely felt in the district at 10.27 a.m. Coming out on the flat country a few minutes later, they were met by a most unusual eight, There suddenly spouted up out of the ground several columns of discolpured water, some of which were as high as a shot gun with which the astonished observers measured them. Hardly had they done so when another group was seen to break forth a (short distance-away. In a few minutes dozens of groups of these fountains were observed, and as the pig-hunters resumed their ride the whole flat at the other side of the hills west of Taupo presented a wonderful sight.

The water ejected was quite cold and not chemical to the taste, as was evi^ denced by the readiness with which the pig-dogs drank it, lapping iron), the top of the smaller, spouts as though quite used to drihlring-fountains. There were hundreds more of these fountains spurting up in the shallow water near the beach, and from the hillf west of the bay the observers had a splendid bird'seye view of tlie curious sight. The little JVlapara stream, which rises in a swamp in the flat country back from the beach, was running much higher than usual, and was muddy with the sudden; rush of water. On their return journey the two hunters found that the " gushers " bad ceased playing..