LAKE TARAWERA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7893, 5 November 1904, Page 6

LAKE TARAWERA.

A Strange Phenomenon

Guide Warbrick's Report.

The Entrance Abnormally

Widened

Mass of Foaming Rapids.

Two Splendid Waterfalls.

The Lake Still Falling.

(By Telegraph — Press Association}, Auckland, Last Night.

For the past few days sensational rumours have been rife, respecting the fall of Lake Tarawera. Guide Warbrick proceeded to the mouth of the Lake to ascertain what had occurred, and reported as follows: —

" The sand-bank on tho north-east side of tbe outlet of the Lake, leading into tho lagoon close to the mouth, has been- washed away, leaving a passage one hundred yards wide, where only about forty feet existed before. This bank, owing to the Lake being high, and, consequently, greater pressure than usual, gave way suddendly, it appeared, some time on Sunday last, and the release of this immense body of water, from the Lake, burst out the entrance to the river, widening the former mouth from about 25 feet to about 80 yards. From this point, for a distance of two miles a great mass of foaming rapids now prevail, terminating in two splendid waterfalls, one being a perpendicular drop of about 400 ft, while the other has a break resembling Aniwanitoa Falls, at Lake Waikaromoana.

" Lake Tarawera is still falling at the rate of three-quarters of an inch per hour, the total drop, up to Thursday evening, being sft to (3ft." Such a body of water finding its way on to adjoining country has caused considerable damage to be done to approaches to bridges on the Tctcko-road, and approaches to four of the bridges have been carried away.