THE THERMAL BELT.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19430, 3 December 1934, Page 8

THE THERMAL BELT.

ROTARIAN’S impressions,

ACTIVITY AT ROTORUA

Incidents in the geology, history and everyday happenings of the North Island 'thermal belt formed the subject of an entertaining address by Mr G. E. Guy, of Rotorua, to the Hamilton Rotary Club at its weekly luncheon to-day. Covering, a wide variety of topics, the speaker dealt with many aspects of the district unknown by the chance tourist and visitor. Tracing the length of the belt trom its southern extremity in the Bay of Plenty, Mr Guy referred to the erroneous'impression conveyed by reports of increased or reduced activity at White Island. The “severity” of the activity in reality he considered to be due to atmospheric conditions, the discharge in essence and quantity remaining hut little changed. “ Hot springs become more frequent on the journey north from the Bay of Plenty,” continued Mr Guy. “ There has been much talk of late of the lowering of the levels of tho lakes in the Rotorua district, and it has been suggested that they are being reduced to an abnormally low height. There are indications, however, that the lakes are, after a period in which they were at an abnormal height, regaining their usual level. This is exemplified in (lie gradual appearance of the. palisades of an old pa which are slowly appearing above the water in Lake Rotorua.”

•Mr Guy went on to deal with the fresh water lakes in the Rotorua district and deprecated the suggestion that the thermal belt was especially prone to earthquakes and eruptions. Not in the history of tho pakcliu in Rotorua had one chimney fallen through earthquake, while the effects of earlh subsidences in other localities had been felt in only a minor degree .throughout the district. The ’speaker concluded by showing (he effect, of climalic conditions, upon the amount, of thermal activity. Wei weather, lie explained, seemed conducive to geyser displays, while there seemed to he some grounds for the theory that activity was,increased by a higher level In the lakes.