SPECTACULAR GEYSER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 7

SPECTACULAR GEYSER

OUTBREAK AT ROTORUA SHOTS 100 FEET IN AIR ERUPTION BESIDE WHARFS WILL REPLACE WAIMAUNGA [ Per Press Association. ] ROTORUA, June IS. With terrific suddenness, a new and spectacular geyser broke out at, 6 p.m. on Wednesday near the mouth of the I’uarenga stream on the shore of Lake Rotorua. The first shot went over 10b feet, then playing until 4 a.m., when it subsided, to break out with renewed violence to-day at 3 p.m., playing continually afterwards every few minutes. The first activity in this locality oe cur red a few weeks ago 20 yards from the present outbreak, when a form.u geyser suddenly erupted, endangering two nearby occupied Maori whares, but after playing for a few days subsided. The occupants of one whare were a couple with three infants and the other an elderly couple. They had been dis turbed. since by a continual trembling of the ground, and evacuated a week ago expecting a fresh outburst. The present outbreak is right in the yard ot the whares, completely engulfing the clothes line and spattering muddy water round the dwellings. When visited this afternoon, the geyser was playing magnificently, sending shots ot a huge quantity of boiling muddy water over 40 feet. The whole is surrounded by a pillar of steam. The scene is reminiscent of the Waimaung-i district. There is a continual trembling of the ground 100 yards away. Thermal activity has been very noticeable at Rotorua during the last few weeks. Pohutu has been playing regularly, sending up fine shot, and the hike front also has been very active. The present outbreak is the biggest for many years. The crater is over 250 feet in circumference and if it continues will compensate in some measure for the loss of Waimaunga.