It may be convenient to express my opinions concerning Ruapehu in a few short sentences:— (1.) What is considered to be the crater of Ruapehu is possibly, in truth, two adjoining craters. (2.) The rim of this crater (or these craters) is most perfect on the south, south-west, and north. (3.) The snow-drainage of the crater takes place through large gaps, in the shape of névés or glaciers hanging down from the rim to the outer slopes of the mountain. (4.) The southern portion of the main crater (or, if there be originally two, the south crater) contains a secondary cinder-cone, situated excentrically on the eastern edge. (5.) This cinder-cone is active as a solfatara, emitting hot water, steam, and sulphuretted hydrogen. (6.) The result of the conflict between the steam and the névé is the formation of the lake. (7.) Its temperature depends upon the amount and temperature of steam on the one side and the amount and rate of névé travelling towards it on the other side. (8.) The lake mostly acts as a steam-condenser, and hides, as it were, to some extent, the activity of Ruapehu. (9.) Most likely Wangaehu draws water from the lake by percolation. Some Practical Hints to Visitors to The Volcanoes. As any one of the three volcanoes, in the author's opinion, exceeds in interest for ordinary tourists and in scenic beauty the whole of the hot-springs district, it is time they were made more accessible to the general public. Though none of them offer any difficulty whatever to fairly good walkers—mountain-climbing capacity proper is not required at all—it takes a good deal of trouble and, to those unacquainted with persons and circumstances, considerable expense, to get the desirable outfit on the spot, and the trouble is even greater perhaps in the case of foreigners. If good guides and outfits were obtainable at reasonable charges, and the trips were duly advertised, these marvellous volcanoes would soon not only become better known and appreciated, but would also contribute to the income of the country. I should advise everybody not to avoid a little detour if the chances of getting a proper outfit appear to become better by doing so. For the ascent, and even more so for the descent, of the mountains, especially the line of Ngauruhoe, a long strong stick is very handy. Ngauruhoe's cone in places is just steep and smooth enough to render rolling stones dangerous to those standing beneath. To traverse from east to west the cones of Tongariro on their slope is very tedious, on account of the many gullies. An ice-axe is sometimes handy on Ruapehu.