Untitled

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1650, 14 October 1903, Page 11

With regard to the proposal to drain Rotomaliana) Professor Thomas, of the Auckland University College, told an interviewer:—"You could only drain Rotomaha.im to tho level of Tar aw era Lake, and die consequent decrease in the amount of water compared with the total amount woiffd bo so small that the draining of the lake would not affect the desired purpose. Rotomahana is on a lower level than Waimangu, there being a considerable watercourse between, the two. As a matter of fact, t]\v drainage from tho surrounding hills flows into Waimangu.* If you drain Rotomahana to prevent the water reaching the heated rocks below, why not drain Tarawcra for the same purpose ? I do not think any drainage that might bo done would make any difference. The Tarawera eruption was seventeen y toy 5 ago, and a considerable amo' c-l' vfoling has probably gone on since’. iny sudden letting down of water on the. heated rock is probably 'less likejly now than then, and if such a thing did happen the harm done would probably bo less. With regard to the future we know nothing. In the Tarawera eruption the volcanic forces entered into a new phase, and a new reservoir was formed beneath the mountain.” *