PINK TERRACES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 18

PINK TERRACES

INVESTIGATION SCHEME

LOWERING LAKE LEVEL SUPPORT OF SUGGESTION Further support for a suggestion that the levol of Lake Rotomahana should ho lowered, with a view to ascertaininjj; \v hether or not tlio Pink ami Whi to Terraces were destroyed by the eruptiun of Mount Tarauera 50 years ago, is given by Mr. G. M. Fowlds, ol Auekl.'md, president of the New Zealand Tourist League. In spite of the statement of the Minister in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts, Hon. F. Langstone, that no action is to be taken by the Government, Mr. Fowlds is hopeful that (lie lake inav lie lowered, and in a letter to the Hkuai.d he suggests a possible method. "Though there is said to be about 140 ft. of water in Lake Rotomahana over the approximate site of the terraces, there is still considerable thermal activity indicated by the steaming cliffs and the warm water of the lake," the letter states. "II by the lowering of the lake it, was found that the terraces had gone, it is probable that considerable thermal activity in the form of geysers and siliceous forming water might well warrant the work, especially as things appear to be dying out in Rotorua itself.

"To avoid the preliminary cost of excavating the 100 ft. hill between Lakes Rotomahana and Tarawera, it might be possible to syphon the waters in pipes across the isthmus and, as the lake was being lowered, the area near the sile of the terraces could be sluiced. If it was found that the terraces had been destroyed, then the lake could be allowed to refill, and no harm would be done.

"Rearing in mind the wonderful beauty of the terraces and the great draw they would be to our tourist traffic, and the fact we have nothing like them (indeed it is doubtful whether in any part of the world was their equal to be seen), surely the scheme justifies close investigation. It would be difficult to say that a considerable expense in the effort is not warrantee]."