WANTED AN ERUPTION.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 196, 2 September 1896, Page 3

WANTED AN ERUPTION.

"General" in the Auckland Herald discourses as follows:—Among the many suggestions for increa ing the steadiness of the water supply for Auckland, is one to concrete the sides of the Mount Eden crater, and fill it with water as a reservoir. Every one knows that the picturesque and tiie romantic are among tho assets of Auckland, but one thing we do want to enliven the scenery is a nice active volcano. Every one that has seen Vesuvius steaming up, and at night illumining the heavens, is aware how it adds to the magnificent beauty of the Bay of Naples, and if we had only Mount Eden, in steady eruption, our location would compare with any in tho world for aesthetic loveliness. Now, this can probably be achieved at a very moderate expenditure, and if the rate' payers would only get over their insensate objection to another tuppence in tho pound, they might, for this little extravagance obtnin a permanent fireworks display ; the attractiveness of which, to strangers, might greatly enhance the value of property in the city. How to compas this by artificial moans, which is usually effected by natural causes, may be found in the hint supplied by Tarawera. That mountain was quiescent from time immemorial as Mount Eden is, till a little crack in the bottom of Rotomahaoa alongside, produced by a slight earthquake, let the water in, which combining with the chemicals which are at the hottom of these terrestrial disturbances caused tho flare up of which the records are familiar to our readers. Now the same results may be produced by artificial means at Mount Eden. For by concreting the Bides of tho cup, they will probably hold together till tho cavity has been filled to tho lip hj r a volume of water when the expansion caused by the pressure will make the fissure required at tho proper time, and the whole volume of water, descending to the heated subterranean depth , wa shall see what we shall e«e.