FROM THE HOT LAKES DISTRICT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1610, 7 January 1903, Page 23

FROM THE HOT LAKES DISTRICT.

WIIAKAREWARE WA. Bee. 27, 1202. Bear Erie, —I thought you might like to have the latest news from lakeland, and to hear liow Uliristmas has been spent among the geysers. I have not been up in this district for some years, and it is wonderful how many changes have been made by man and how tew by nature. Neat little paths are cut in all directions, between boiling mudholes and steaming geysers showing you exactly where it is sate to walk, and even in the wildest districts you come suddenly upon neat placards announcing that you may "look but not touch," and warning you also of dangerous places. Band-stands and garden seats are in the midst of the geysers district here, and people wander about- or sit waiting patiently for hours for some favourite geysers to play. There is a nice tent with long seats and. tables where you get most delicious tea; cakes, etc., just at the entrance to the geyser ground, and also a most delightful surprise after a long, hot drive to Wairoa, the buried village, when I was fairly longing for even a drink of water we suddenly came in sight in the midst of bush, and near the famous waterfall, another snug little tea tent. I am sure I never tasted such a delightful cup of tea before, - These 'tents have been started by a lady from Rotorua and have proved a’ great success, and are highly appreciated by numbers of tourists. Lord Hawke's English cricketers have been staying here for a few days, and I believe are greatly pleased with all they have seen. The first evening they arrived the Maoris got up some poi dances and a small liaka. On Christmas Bay the W airoa geyser was well dosed with soap, and played beautifully for their edification. I never saw such a collection of cameras in one spot, before. I counted twenty, stand, pocket, kodaks, etc., just near me, and I am sure there- were many more. It is a curious thing what an attraction there is in the piece of ground just in front of a camera, especially to ladies with umbrellas or men with big hats, and I believe the remarks of the long-suffering photographers required no intensifying after developments ! An episode which made the crowd laugh heartily was the wetting of a number of people who stood incautiously near the geyser. I believe Mr War brick and one or two other guides were among those who got soaked with Wairoa water, so it is no wonder a good many others "fell in," as they naturally waited for those who were supposed to know all about geysers and their little ways to move first, I was afraid they would be terribly scalded, especially some ladies in thin dresses, but they said the ..water was almost cold before it came down on them, which was a very fortunate thing. I have just Peen round the new trip to sea the lately discovered geyser, Waimangu, a most interesting, albeit somewhat tiring experience. We drove to Wairoa and took boat over Tarawera Lake, a beautiful green water sheet, and looked an many interesting points where there were formerly snug little Maori villages and now nothing but grey desolation. In this lake there is a pretty little island covered now with aeacia where was once the firsffimission station. After leaving the boat we walked over a neck of land and came to Rotomahana Lake. There our boat soon, came into boiling water, and to keep still m the boat while the water boils and bubbles underneath it is a most peculiar experience. The former sites of the Fink and White Terraces (as far as can he guessed) were shown to us, and we went along close to steaming hole© and boiling geysers for an hour. After leaving the boat we walked up a narrow canon, with a lot of partially-dried mud from Waimangu. in if. and then after Lunch adjournment began the climb which leads to the most weird and horrible sight in all New Zealand, I should think. We toiled up a narrow scoria and pumice path, past great dead craters and fissures, with little side holes oozing steam, the rocks and stones mostly yellow ochre or dull Venetian red in colour* the vegetation only toi grass and scrubby bushes of tutu, till we came down to a great black hole containing boiling water, with steaming hot grey and black: sides. A little below this lagoon- is Waimangu itself-—a sort of largebasin, with yellow and black mud sides, and milky looking water simmering and steaming, quietly. Suddenly, without any warning, with a dull noise a great sheet of' inky-black mud shoots up into the air to a great height. It is the most extraordinary sight out of the many that one can see here. It is truly wonderful, and we considered ourselves very fortunate in seeing it the first time we went there.. People have been two or three times and have not seen an eruption end others have taken tents and camped cut patiently till Waimangu has seen fit to gratify their curiosity. Certainly it 's a grand sight, and one well worth all ihe fatigue and hard climbing. After ell this one has a very pleasant 17 mile drive back to Whakarewarewa, and then after one of the lovely hot baths, so easily to be got in the hotel grounds, one feels almost ready to start again. Wishing you a Happy New Year, Yours sincerely—lONE.

Miss Blanche Balfour, niece of the Britlsn irnme lVJLinaster, nas been presented by the people at Whittinghame. East Lothian, with a beautiful dressing-case on the occasion of her approaching marriage*