Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-14
New Zealand.

geysers, &C., which exist there in connection !,
with the volcano of Tongariro, in the central
part of the northern division of the island Of ,
the lakes, Lake Taupo, situated about twelve
miles from Mount Tongariro, is the largest in
the thermal region. 1t is about thirty-six
miles long, by twenty-five WIDE The district
it is rich in thermography, and on
the delta formed by the river Waikato, which
empties into the lake, are numerous boiling
spsinssas, ard n. ssse,tsns thu <ssss. 10 ste
southwark of the delta the ground is found to
be of high temperature. 1t is formed of red
or white clay, of q soft and alkaline nature,
which the natives use instead of soap, and
sometimes eat. Gaseous ef1uvia seem to have
alt, into this clay.
The shore of Lake Taupo is of basaltic rock,
and close to the waters edge are ponds of hot
water, which, formed either by nature or arti6-
cially by the natives, are used as bathing places.
The temperature in them ranges fom 95 deg.
to 125 deg. F. The water of the lake itself
or two inches below the surface. the thermome-
ter is often ITO deg. F., but lower down sinks
to 60 deg Several streamlets from Mt. Maun-
ga Tauhara discharge their warm water into
the lake
| About half mile from the base Of the hills
a hot pond, having temperature Of 1875 deg
discharges itself into cold river. Near by is
large boiling spring, forming hollow basin,
nine feet long, by eight broad, and about fifteen
feet deep. The ground all around sounds hol-
low. The clear, transparent water is in state
few seconds, it is thrown up with violence to
the height of four or five feet Its taste is
slightly but agreeably saline. Warm ponds
are very numerous in this region, and close to
the hot springs there are very strong saline
Ones This large assemblagc of springs covers
an area of about ten square miles, and the en-
tire area seems to be only thin crust over sub
terraneous and volcanic caverns This crust is
about q foot in thickness and below is a grey,
soft, and generally hot mud. 1t often happens
that this crust breaks in, and dreadful scaldings
not unfrequently occur. Here may be seen the
+, process of decomposition of volcanic rocks 60
a ing or, and the separation of the alluminous
: earth or clay. by means of the subterranean va
: por and hot water, and the subsequent decom-
$ position of q part of the dissolved and suhli.
# mated substances in the shape of chalcedony
4 Another great natural curiosity described by
l. Dieffenbach, is a deep lake. surrounded by ver-
IS dant hills In it are several islets. some show
C ing the bare rock, Others covered with shrubs,
/ while on all of them steam issues from hun
o dred openings between the green foliage, without
impairing its freshness On one side of the
lake is fight of broad steps, of the color Of
white marble, with rosy tint, and cascade
Of boiling water falling over them into the
10 lake. The lagoon, which pours its hot water
J. into the lake over ledge of rocks, is about ten
: yards wide, and about hundred feet above the
n level of the lalter-serving as a hot water con-
l. duit for swimming bath mile in circum-
D. ference! The temperature of the water of the
IT lake which constitutes this grand bath is 95
r. deg. F. Its thermal quality is impaired by the
10 lagoon above, and from hot springs in and
g around the lake itself On the banks, steam
~ issues from many openings, and nature hert
furnishes the required heat for both bathing
g. and cooking
- - The natives make peculiar use of some o
: the warm springs which abound in this region
>. They surround them with stones, and thu
form basins in which they are continually sit
- - ting. They make new application of th
i, seat or hip bath, by using it in the place of
80 fire, jumping in as often as they feel cold. Th
49, practice does not seem to hurt them, they bein
20 - remarkably healthy in appearance. DR.. Die
:. fenbach says he initiated their example in tf
night, and found the bath very agreeable.
one locality native village is built close to IL
'" springs, which they have from time immem,
he rial, used as natural kitchen for boiling the
ieu food. The water of some of them is clear ar
Al nearly tasteless, with temperature above ii
m- boiling point. One Of the finest villages
s'h New Zealand occupies large surface which
OF actually intersected by crevices from whi'
ne steam issues, and also by boiling springs al
de' mud volcanoes Great care is required, ev
the by native, to tread ones way through tt
troll intricate and dangerous labyrinth, and ac
was dents are very common from breaking throul
do the insecure crust In some places only a nj
ned row path leads through field of boiling mt
the Boiling mud ponds are described by Dieffi
liar back The mud and sand which they throw
the constitute complete ranges of miniature volcs
for 10 hills. The mud and sand form trunca'
NIB cones, some Of which are fifteen feet in dian
his ter, filled with clean hot water in the centre
inst whish bubbles rise continually. Some of tn
ping boiling ponds are of great magnitude.
In using the hot springs for bathing purp
The es, the natives temper them by introducing c
rack water, from the cold springs or rivers in pr
the unity to them They are thus enabled to
cked Joy any temperature they may wish, vary
nee, from cold to hot. Besides the hot springs,
,ally natives take advantagen cooking, of the ste
own. which arises from the springs or from crew
.ence in the rocks, which are of themselves often
tain. enough for the purposes of baking
,be Anotherl popularity of New Zealand is
climate, which is said TO be remarkably equa
uihg and saIubrions there is no great heat in ST
th me-, or cold in winter In Auckland. situa
n, or in bay on the eastern coast the thermome
most rose only onoe as high as 81 deg. and descen
!. - as low as SO deg. f. 1t is seldom below 40
In. r. L -L....l y.