The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-29
A DESOLATE SCENE.
A Visit to the Region Affected by
the Great Earthquake in,
New Zealand.
A Veritable Wonderland, Rich in the
Most Marvellous Creations Of
Nature.
Tho Acid RIVER.

left Ohlnemutu in company with
Mr.. Goldsmith, district surveyor, and,
after three hours riding through a
fern-clay country, reacb-
ed the survey camp at Parehcru bush.
q few miles from the most southern
crater and close to the edge of the mud
line. On the road from Ohinemutu
very few indications of the eruption
can be observed. On the Moerangi
ranges, at the base of which the track
lies, the deposit elected on the 10th of
June still remains, giving blush tint
to the lofty hills. AS Pareheru is ap-
preached, however, the signs of vol
canic action become more evident.
The ground is covered with depth of
several inches with scoria. ashes, and
mud. and here and there earthquake
cracks are met with. These are caused
by subsistence of the ground, and in
almost every case follow the lines of
former depressions., which are very
marked texture OF the country. 1t is
aSasu noteworthy that they invariably
run northeast and southwest-the di-
rection followed by the great fissure or
line of volcanic force. The cracks vary
in width from few inches to two or
three feet, and in some places are from
three to four feet deep.
After ashort rest at the camp started
for the southern crater, passing on the
way part of the bush which has the
appearance of having been subjected to
the full force of a scorching blast. About
half an hours walking brings you to
the mud-line proper. Behind you high
brown fern clothes the ridges and val
leys, while in front, as far as the eve
can reach, stretches mighty undulat-
ing ocean of dull gray mud, in the CEN
ter of which rises an enormous volume
of pure white steam, while in the back
ground Tarawera, gashed and broken
towers, $500 feet into the sky. 1t is a
scene of fearful desolation, of which no
one who has not gazed upon it can form
the faintest conception. In most places
the mud is consolidated, and is as hard
as cement, but here and there one comes
across nasty patches in which you sink
at every step over the knee. Walking
difficult and fatiguing. The mud clings
like glue to the foot and leg, and it re-
quires considerable physical. strength to
get through these places. was fully
an hour crossing a patch of soft mud,
which under ordinary circumstances l
could have walked over in five or ten
minutes. With the exception of these
places, which can not be avoided, walk
ing, though laborious, presents no very
great difficulty. The surface is furrow-
ed in all directions, presenting SINH
lar appearance to plowed land, while
deep water courses are frequently met
with. The southern crater is formed
in high hill, the sides of which are
covered with fragments of rocks, prin-
cipally trachyte. From the lip to the
hot lake at the bottom of the crater is
between five and six hundred feet. Very
little steam arises from this crater, but
the water in it was boiling furiously
and landslips were constantly occur
ring.
A little to the northeast of this crater
is hot lake of about an acrein extent.
This has been called Echo lake, from
the fact of remarkably distinct echo
being heard here, In large number
of places it was boiling with great fury.
and its surface was covered with dirty
colored foam. The sides of the lake
are high and steep, but at one point
they have been broken through, and
three weeks ago the lake poured out
enormous volumes of boiling water at
this point, which formed river of con-
siderable dimensions, and its course
can be distinctly traced, the banks be-
ing from twenty to thirty feet high in
some places. Since then, however, the
lake has fallen and is now several feet
below it's former level.
Divided from the lake by a narrow
strip of land is the Holc-in- the Wall
crater, an enormous gap in the side of
the hill. 1t is an ugly and fearsome
place, full of steam and water of inky
blackness. This crater and the lake
have playful habit of squirting water
and throwing stones into each other.
Fortunately, however, the day I stood
between them they refrained from in
dulging in this sport. All round the
hillsides right down to the margin of
the lake where | was the ground was
covered with indentations, marking
where heavy stones had fallen and
buried themselves in the mud, splash.
ing in all directions, and giving the
side of the hill the appearance of hav.
ing been bombarded. These depres.
sions are circular in form and vary
from four to thirty feet in circumfer-
ence.
The Rothomanana craters which lie
eeyond were sending up beautiful
~3oud of steam and laundering away
with great activity. The wind was
bitterly cold and swept over the bleak
undiscovered hills with tremendous
force, carrying with it clouds of pebbly
dust. Round the cone of the southern
crater the surface is brilliantly bejew-
elcd with beautiful white crystals,
which sparkle like diamonds in the
sunshine
The return to camp was a fatiguing
journey, and crossing the soft mud
which had grown softer and stickiel
than ever, was toilsome piece Of
work. During the night several shocks
of earthquake were experienced, and
the distant rumbling OF the craters
| sounded clear and uncanny in the still
ness of the midnight.
i In the Waiotapu valley. which lies
between these two giant peaks, there
is new wonderland, rich in the mos
marvellous creations of a mysterou.
! nature, and hitherto unexplored b,
tourists. There are hundreds o
fumaroles, hot springs, steam holes
lakes of the most lovely tints iron
rich green to deep blue-natural baths
| clear as crystal, and miniature terrace