THE LOST TERRACES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 152, 13 June 1932, Page 9

THE LOST TERRACES

NATURE’S MASTERPIECES BARE, EXQUISITE BEAUTY. A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION. In recording his reminiscences of the Taiawera ei option, of which ho is now one of the very few survivors, Air H. Lundius, of Wellington, gives a very clear and realistic description of the Pink and White Terraces. These exquisite masterpieces of Nature’s artis try, which took rank among the wonders of the world, were obliterated during the great upheaval of June 10, 1886.

“No words could adequately describe the terraces,’’ writes Mr Lundius. “Even a brush handled by the greatest artist could not do the subject justice. There are same paintings that are very good and fairly true, but the different, shades of colouring cannot be reproduced, however good the artist may be. He cannot compete with the Great Artist of tlw Universe.

“Forty-six years ago one route to reach the Hot Lakes district was bysteamer to Tauranga and from there by a long day’s coach journey over a rough but picturesque road to Rotorua. From Rotorua coach was taken to Te Wairoa, where Joo Mcßae kept a very good hotel. Early next morning one embarked on a boat owned and rowed by Maoris for Te Ariki, a small native kainga at the mouth of the Kaiwhaka stream, which was the outlet for the original Lake Rotomahana. From Te Ariki the visitor went on foot to tho White Terrace, Te Tarata. WHITE TERRACE CRATER. “This had a frontage of about 800 ft. to the lake, and the distance from the lake to the crowning basin or crater was also about 800 ft. This gives it an area of about 71 acres. The diameter of the crater was about 220 ft., with a silicated rim 6ft. in breadth, enclosing a basin at the bottom of which was about 30ft below the rim. In the centre of this basin was a funnel some 15ft in diameter. The basin was generally full to ovorlflowing, but when the wind was southerly it became quite dry; and the writer has descended into it, gone to the edge of tho funnel and looked down. The water rose with a mighty roar to within a few feet of where I stood. I often think now what a foolhardy thing it was to do, but at that time I did not know what fear was. “The surface of the White- Terrace was rather rough, something like coral, and it was painful- to walk on it barefooted. Hence onlv a few bathed in the buttresses. When the crater was not overflowing tho colouring in the buttresses was beautiful belong description. RUSE TO CATCH DUCKS. “From the White Terraco to the Pink our canoes were taken across tho original Rotomahana Lake, which was a rather unattractive sheet of water, being sedgy, with clouds of steam rising from numerous boiling springs around it. The area was not more than 40 or 50 acres. It’s water was quite warm, and there were generally numerous wild ducks about. As the Maoris did not allow any shooting over it the birds were not shy. The natives

had, however, an ingenious way of catching them. They made a headdress of rushes, completely hiding tho head, and waded out iuto the lake until they arrived in the midst of the unsuspecting ducks. They- then caught them by the logs and pulled the bird under the water so quickly that it did not have time to warn its friends of the sudden danger. Many a duck have I caught in this manner. “Tho colour of the Pink Terrace was, as the name indicates, a pale pink. Its surface was soft and smooth like polished mai l l > or enamel. Looking down down into the vauldrou one saw the most c.'.qnixiti- echw.riug lalor.d ilose.rir.tion.

The flow of w’ater was uniform, and the cauldron never became empty like tho one on the White Terrace. It flowed quietly from buttress to buttress, so that by the time it reached the lower ones it was just comfortably warm for a bathe. BATHING IN PINK TERRACE. “Bathing was generally indulged in at tho Pink Terrace. There were no dressing sheds. Disrobing had to be done in the friendly shelter of the manuka. As mixed bathing had not then been introduced, the sexes took turns. Ono generally got into one of tho lower buttresses wherever one found the water to be of suitable temperature, and then as one got used to it gradually worked up to near the cauldron. “Tho journey back to the boat was either done on foot or by canoe down the Kaiwhaka stream. Some did not like the latter trip as there were several rapids to be negotiated; and even the late Admiral Tryon, of Camperdown fame, was said to have been rather nervous doing this trip. If there were only one or two persons who wanted to visit the terraces, the trip was done On horseback on mounts supplied by the Maoris.”—“N.Z. Herald.”