SEEING WONDERLAND

Evening Star, Issue 15138, 20 March 1913, Page 5

SEEING WONDERLAND

-MEN OF EMPIRE IN ROTORUA. THE WAIMANGU TOUR. [Per United Press Association.] ROTORUA, March 20. Enthusiastic interest is being taken by the members of the Trade of Empire Royal Commission, who are now spending four days in Rotorua in the novel pleasures which the thermal district offers. Their visits to Ohinemutu and Whakavewarewa hardly quickened their curiosity for fresh revelations of Nature’s strangest inventions, and yesterday tho party made the famous Waimangu round trip, and found it full of more wonders than their fancies pictured. The weather in Rotorua has continued brilliantly fine, and the day was an ideal one for the big excursion. The party are the guests of the Government on all the excursions they are making in Rotorua, and they speak very highly of the excellence of the arrangements and the kindliness of the entertainment. They examined with manifest interest tho strange phenomena in the vicinity of the Waimangu geyser, the sleeping giant of Wonderland, under the charge of Guide Warbrick. The party were taken across Lake Rotomahana to the site of the buried Pink Terrace—a spot that is not usually visited now, owing to the dangerous nature of the soil. This is really one of the most wonderful examples of thermal activity. Passing through the clouds of steam that rise continuously about the precarious track, the party reached the scene of one of Tarawera’s greatest injuries, and afterwards hoard the story of the great eruption of 1886 from Warbrick, who was one of the witnesses of the upheaval, and one of those who first visited the stricken area. With the ruins of Wairoa as a background, Warbrick told in simple, graphic style the narrative of that terrible experience—a history that greatly interested and impressed his audience. The drive into Rotorua during the early evening was thoroughly pleasurable. The sun was setting behind the high cliffs of Tikitapu, forming a picture of exquisite beauty, and the drive through the forest that rises from the shores of the lake charmed the members of the Commission. Drawing upon the technical terms of trade for a suitable metaphor, one member remarked that “New Zealand lias been made of the Creator’s samples such as are never found in other parts of tho world,” and with this warm praise the party heartily agreed. Having been able to leave Auckland two days ahead of tho main party, the Hon. G. F. Foster, Canadian Minister of Trade, and the Hon. E. R. Bowring, of Newfoundland, have made a visit to the Geyser Valley, Wairakei, and to Taupo, where they had some excellent trout-fishing. They returned _ to Rotorua last evening delighted with their experiences, and joined the main party to-day in an excursion on Lake Rotorua to the Okere Falls. Sir H. Rider Haggard and Mr Tom Garnett, two of the United Kingdom representatives, accompanied by Mr S. Demeter, of Vienna, made a special excursion yesterday to Lake Tavawera for some fishing. They had an excellent day, meeting with much better sport than has been obtained in the lake for some time. They took 17 very nice fish.

On Monday evening the party attended the entertainment given by the Rotorua Maori Mission, and were welcomed by one of the Arawa chiefs with a most eloquent and picturesque speech, and with a haka by a number of the Arawa Maoris. The welcome was acknowledged by Sir Rider Haggard.