WAIKAREMOANA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10194, 31 October 1904, Page 4

WAIKAREMOANA.

PHENOMENAL RISE OF THE LAKE. The Tourist Department lias received a, letter from the keeper of tlie Lake House at Wa.ikaremoaaKi., stating that they liave experienced tlie longest, period of wet weather known since tlie place was exploited by the Government. Tlie Maoris liave not seen the lake so high for .many years as it was on the 16th inst. There were thirty inclies of water hi the boat.hed, and the greater part of the orchard was also submerged to a considerable depth, and the keeper expressed the fear tliat if the waters did not quickly recede, the young fruit trees and vegetables would be destroyed by flood debris. Part of the recently-form-ed lawn liad also been washed away, and .streams eight to ten indues deep were racing across the broken sward into the lake. The outlet, the keeper says, is too small to carry off flood watea. from tlie big area tliat drains into the lake. He estimated tliat it would take twenty men until November 20th to repair tlie road between Waikaremoana and Onepoto (the lake's end) before the coach would be able to get through. The boat-shed is about fifteen feet above the normal height of the lake. There is said to be an underground outlet to the "Sea of Dashing Waters," from which the Waikoae-laheke river takes its source. Tliere are many legends m connection with this kike. One applying to the underground outlet relates how one Houmapuhia, becai.e he disoljeyed his father, was chased to a spring and lield under the water. He called on lib gods for aid, aud they created him a taaiiwha, or water-god. He forced liis way through the solid ground, and 'formed the great hollow now occupied by the lake. He tried to escape on many occasions, hence the number of bays and inlets. Failing m this, he burrowed into the earth, came to where the waters rushed forth, and there stuck. "And," isays Mr Elsdon \ Best, "Hau-inapulua, _I.UI lies there where he emerged, transformed into stone. His head is down-hill and his legs* extend up the hill-side, and the Like waters, rushing forth from tlie hill, pass through liis body to form below the Waikc.-e-ta.eke river. Also you may see liis hair floating and waving m the foaming waters; this hair is m the form of wliat we call kohuwai (a water plant)."