ROTORUA SPA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 134, 4 December 1944, Page 7

ROTORUA SPA

VAGARIES OF NATURE

MINERAL BATH SOURCES

(By E. G. Guy.)

Visitors to Rotorua regard with a great deal of awe, mixed with trepidacion, the manifestations of underground forces indicated by geysers, ngawhas, pnd boiling mud pools. Residents of long standing, however, have come to regard these matters as something existing for their convenience,' to be made use of in the shape of mineral baths, hot-water supply, and even as an easy method of cooking meals. Source of the water is not given much thought except by scientists. When the layman does hazard an opinion his definition oi-Ahe activity is usually scientifically erroneous—such as, for instance, the belief that Rotorua is a safety valve for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other more or less intangible visitations. On occasion, however, there is drastic alteration in activity, public inconvenience is caused and the men whose profession it is to deal with' these matters have to grapple with problems of which the public know little, and inA act only become aware of by the sudden cessation of some facility previously taken for granted. ' ■ A SUDDEN FAILURE. Such an instance occurred some months ago when pools at the foot of Whakarewarewa hill which had previously served the popular spout baths and had also been piped in to serve the Blue and Ward Baths in Rotorua, suddenly began to lose their levels. This process continued until it was no longer possible to draw upon them. A serious state of affairs occurred at the Government baths, and undue strain was put on the Rachel Pool in an endeavour to meet the demand for mineral water for bathing and medicinal purposes. Mr. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, authorised prompt measures and gave Mr. H. R. Beale, Tourist Department's Electrical Superintendent, and Mr. N. Modriniak, geologist and Government observer, the task of investigating the position. These two'officers have carried out painstaking research work and experimentation. As a result of their efforts an auxiliary supply of water has already been obtained for the baths and plans are in progress for the provision of further supply. Unfortunately no complete scientific record has been kept in Rotorua of natural phenomena, and the only person with a detailed knowledge of it, the late Mr. H. E. Fitzgerald, died suddenly without his knowledge being committed to paper. Literally, tlfe officers at present engaged in research Had to begin again from scratch. TEST BORES RESPOND. As there' were no surface sources of water other than the already overtaxed Rachel Pool, within reasonable distance of the bath buildings, it was I decided to test for subterranean hot water by boring, and trials were made lat various points in the Government grounds. While these were regarded mainly as prospecting, immediate results were encouraging and were a source of gratification to the Minister !on his recent visit of inspection. Be;fore proceeding further with boring activities, however, it is probable that some months, of observation will be ■necessary to ascertain the consistency of the present bores, which give approximately 60,000 gallons of hot water daily. ; One of the problems confronting experiments has been the fact that the •water, rushing through new ground, carried fine particles of silica in suspension, and there was a danger that in the use of the water for bathing, skin; or eye irritation might be caused. A system has therefore been developed of using settling tanks and applying methods which result in the precipitation of the particles before they reach the baths. Another effect, however, is the discoloration of the water, which assumes a. milky hue. Although great, the present quantity from the bores is still insufficient for 1 the" demands of the spa, and further sources are • being soughf'by drilling or by tapping more distant surface water. As stated previously, additional drilling in the present locality will be postponed until sufficient data havebeen 1 collected regarding the permanence of the new bores, their sources, effect on existing supplies, and suitability of the water for medicinal purposes. S KtJIRAU RESERVE SOURCE. A scheme of some permanent nature is contemplted by using hot water from the Kuirau Reserve, which lies near Ohinemutit at the western foot of Pukeroa Hill, This water was used extensively in the past by the Rotorua Hospital, when it wa s known as King George V Hospital, in the treatment of servicemen returned from the last war and children suffering from infantile paralysis. It is proposed to pipe water to the •■Tourist Department's ground on PukeTx°r a HJ^^d fro*n there to the Blue and Ward Baths. There is a . possibility that this scheme would also allow the use of the water at the new servicemen's hospital as the pipes will pass nearby, and also at the new sanatorium wnen completed. < The permanence of the scheme depends on Nature only. If the' supply failed recourse would have to be made to further boring, but geological surveys carried out by Mr, Modriniak indicate that water' is at present drawn from and owes its heat to a major fault fracture which run s at the foot of Pukeroa Hill.

In the absence of any records inquiries regarding fluctuations of the pool have had to be made from old residents. These show that over a lons period of years there has been little change in level or temperature