LOCAL VISITORS TO THE HOT LAKES.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 157, 19 June 1886, Page 3

LOCAL VISITORS TO THE HOT LAKES.

The following gentleman left Te Aroba bytho 1.35 p.m. train on Saturday last for the scene of the volcanic eruption at the Hot Lakes : Messrs Burgess, D. J. Frazer, H. Crump (Engineer to the Te Aroha Thermal Springs Domain Board) A. F. James (Te Aroha), C. Rhodes, J. Phillips, Junr. (Faeroa), J. A, Pond (city analysiot Auckland;, v.nd A. Montgomery (of Thames School of Mines). With the exception of Messrs Montgomery, Frazer, and Crump, all took their horses by same train. Oxford was reached at about half past four, and from here Messrs Pond, Burgess, Rhodes, Phillips, and James, at once rode on to Rotorua, (reaching tbere about midnight), and .made an early start Sunday moming for Wairoa; where the day was spent in investigating the scene of destruction. The rest of the party proceeded to Rotorua by coach Sunday morning ; where they arrived about half past two. From thence, being without horses, they'found it impossible owing to the mud, to get more than some four miles further in the direction of Rotomahana, and all the party xeturned to Rotorua that night. Oa Monday inorniog Messrs^ Burgess, randr r and James, left for Oxford, rei turning to Aroha by train same afternoon. The others of the party (with the exception of Mr Crump, who spent the day in examining the hot springs, bath houses, and sanatorium generally at Rotorua,) under the able guidance of Rev. A. Fairbrother, rode (via Kaiteriria track) to the southern, end of the line of volcanic action near to Okaro lake, and spent the day in examining the Graturs in this locality, no less than five in number, and all in a more or less state of activity. Time not permitting of a visit to Rotomahana, as in many places the dry ashes were knee deep, making locomotion, as may be readily imagined tedious. Tuesday fore-

noon was spent. in looking over Itotorua, under the guidance, of Dr. Ginders*; Messrs Pond, and .Phillip^, rid nig to,. Oxford Iti i ,the afternoon, and, proceeding *hbrao\ from thence by next I morning's train. t ; whilst Messrs Montgomery and Cramp" returned io Aroha on Wednesday. On $unday Rotorqa was thronged with "visitors from Taiiranga, Auckland, etc.,' and every day, saw fresh crowds arriving! to view the I wondorous sight. Mr Montgomery states, that even on Wednesday, he felfc several shocks of earthquake at Rotorua. These gentleman' gave us interesting particulars of what they saw, etc., dur- ! ing their visit, but tjo subject is so I fully dealt with in our supplement this week, that reiteration would be tedious. On Tuesday Messrs Downes and John Wood proceeded on a similar errand by the afternoon train from Aroha.