ELEMENTAL WAR AND PEACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 75

ELEMENTAL WAR AND PEACE.

LAKE W ANAR A AND ITS ISLAND LAKELET. Mr William Martin, a contributor to the Otago Witness, noticing in a footnote to a letter from’ one of our members that Dot had an idea of visiting th© Lake Waixaka district on some favourable occasion, sent in the following lines as likely to interest D.L.F. and all readers who may have an idea of visiting Lake Wanaka; — The lake is long, its bays are deep Where waves near forty miles may sweep; ’Tis high above the distant sea ’Mid high and rugged scenery; Its flood is fed by ice and snow, Released by sunshine’s genial glow; Transparent waters of the hue Of sunny skies of deepest blue; It fills a mountain valley wide With its cold, deep, and lengthened tide; Tli© rugged heighths from its lone strand Abruptly rise, a scrub-grown land; These mighty monuments in pride Confine its course on either side. The lake was ploughed out long ago When mount and vale were draped in snow; Tho ice of ages—then so deep— Had steeped all life in endless sleep; King Frost then rclgnod and ruled alone, “Orangi” was the despot’s throne; From thence was issued his decree That all his hosts should seek tho sea; Each glacier then, on mountain’s side, Began its long and ponde-roua glide, The grinding mass, grooved wide and deep Each sloping vale, and foothill steep. Fair Wanaka was one oi" these, But fated ne’er to gain the seas, For ice had groved a thermal spring, Arousing thus a slumbering king. Pluto, the irate, rose in ire, And stoked afresh his flickering fire, Then fought so furious and so long He pierced at length his foe so strong; How long the warfax-e waged none know. But victory' crowned th© volcano; The fiery element beneath Dissolved the glacier with its breath. But as the angry debris rose The waters soothed it to repose; Around the crater rose a rixxg That fire and force away would fling; So great the mass, so high it rose A bar between titanic foes. Thus from tho water and the flro Manuka Island rose entire, A glowing mass for many years, Until at length strife disappears. Triumphantly victorioxis firo To subterraneous halls retire; Thus Wanaka.—from ice and snow Became tho limpid lake wo know. Now, when the fire had ceased to glow. The heated lava cooled below, Tho yawning crater’s depths untold; But rising .steam and gaa enfold, And closing far beneath the lake A new existence slowly take; A ruptured vein of mountain spring Into the crater dribbled in. Which, gathering force, soon bore away The fractured rock that would delay; Thus, water gathered far below Tho greatest depth the lake may know; And, falling thus, again to climb High as the lake—it rose in time, And rising still—three hundred feet, The crater shone a lakelet sweet. Th© island cone just paens above, Whose circling arms enfold with love The sheltering shrubs, around it grow. Lest rude wind ruffle its clear brow; The grasses and the hardy fern Give all their greenne-’s to adorn; The crocus and the lilies spread A garland round the lakelet’s head. And here and there manukas palo Arrest the force of passing gale; Such is the lakelet on the isle. Wearing a sweet, perpetual smile; Child of the gently-falling snow, And of the violent volcano, Fair offspring of the firo and flood, Two dreadful forces, vet so good. Thou liqu’d gem. so calm and pure, ora wondrous warfare did immure. Thy surface calm can never know The rage that rends the lake below; For when its waves in violence beat. Thou hast but wavelets, sparking bright. Oh, that wo mortals were like iheo In beauty and tranquillity! I<iko thee, our source we may not know. We see not whence or where we go; Wo, too, above all rage may rise," Like the© rcfi"ct the glorious skies; Bo restful ’mid life’s wildest strife. And lead a calm, contented life. And sheltered round with cave divine. In restful trust on Christ recline. Our life, by love and peace possessed. Till heaven bestow its perfect rest. —William Mabtx"