CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 7730, 2 July 1903, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

WAIMANGU GEYSER.

to in a editor.

Sib, — I notise your paragraph re the above, and the apprehension of tha inhabitants of Botorua lest worse come of ifcI consider the matter of the. utmost importance, and I believe there is palpable reason for tbe increase of activity, and an easy remedy. If Mr Malfroy were alive he would understand the matter, but I believe the thermal expert the Government has now is a German, and the German geyser is not nearly so eruptive as the German Kaiser. Hence he lacks experience. It is thought that the eruption of 1886 was caused by the cold waterß of Rotoruahana finding n way by newly opened crevices on to tbe superheated rocks below. Previously Rotomahana was connected with Lake Tarawera by a stream called Kaiwaka, running from the former into the latter. Tbe volcanic deposit from the eruptive mountain filled up the creek, and the Rotomahana outlet disappeared under many feet of detritus. After the eruption, as one stood on tbe bank of the lake at tbe spot where once the creek flowed from it, one looked down a preoiptce into the lake below. Since then there has been no drainage from the lake, and llotomabana has been getting higher and higher. Deprived of its natural outlet, it spreads where the banks are low, and has thus extended its waters towards Echo Lake and the Black Crater, a district of p.xtremo thermal aotivity. It is probable that it has found access to tbe superheated rocks below, hence Waimangu geyser. It may discover more crevices deeper, and heated rocks in more confined space, and more serious outbreaks would probably occur, or it might find its way to Mount Kakaramea, nnd blow its painted rocks to heavtn.' The remedy is to opeu up Kaiwaka creek, the natural outlet of Rolomuhana, and thus confine the waters of the lake to its normal Led. — I am, etc., R. S. THOMPSON.