GEYSER FROM STEAM HOLE

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 17 November 1932, Page 7

GEYSER FROM STEAM HOLE

SURPRISE AT ROTORUA. MUD INVADES CLEAR. POOLS. (By Telegraph—l'ress Association). ROTORUA, Nov. 17. When Mrs. Mara Hicks, of Ohinernutu, went to get a kettle from the family thermal cooking hole at 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon she met an unpleasant surprise. As she stooped for the kettle she heard an ominous rumble beneath her feet. She fled just m time, as a few seconds later the afternoon tea and evening dinner went up 30 feet in the air. Steam holes, two in number, are situated in a garden in the midst of a group of cottages, while another is quite close to the spot. They served not only for cooking purposes, but also supplied clear hot water for three baths. Now all connection with the baths is severed and the steam hole on Mrs. Hicks’ property is filled with liquid mud. Although water and steam rose fully 30 feet practically no debris was ejected. No damage was done to the garden, the cottages or the hath, but where once were clear hot pools there are now two gaping holes in the rock about two feet in diameter, with muddy boiling water at the bottom.