The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-08-02
The New Zealand Volcano.
Activity in the Lake District Con-
tinues
The Total Loss of lille.

Since the last monthly summary,
( there has been = sustained activity in
many OF the points o. eruption in the
+ Lake district, but upon comparatively
mild scale On several occasions there
have been wonderful displays OF latent
( energy, but all these have been very
tame affairs as compared with the ter
rible exhibition of force on the morning
OF the 10th Of June, which sent up
tongues OF flame to a hight of nine
miles. Many OF the boiling springs,
however, have manifested an unwonted
energy. Some Of them have boiled at
fierce rate, and many of the geysers
have thrown up water to a great hight.
The level OF some portions OF the land in
the Lake district appear to have
changed. The plain where the town
ship OF Ohinemuta is situated is said to
be now at lower level by something
over three feet. But whether this state
ment is based upon good foundation,
or whether the apparent difference is
due to fuller supply OF water in Lake
Rotorua, will require some time to de-
tefmine with certainty.
II Earthquake shocks are still far more
scommon than was the case before the
great eruption3 but they have hitherto
resulted harmlessly. Several OF the new
volcanoes which have been opened up
have sent steam and flames to a very
great hight on different occasions, some
times to a hight of upwards OF 5000
feet, but these fits OF energy are OF short
duration, and the residents in the dis
trict give little heed to them
The large quantity OF volcanic ashes
which was thrown out in the terrible
outbreak, and which has spread over
some 200, 900 acres, are now found to be
not hurtful to vegetation. In places
where the depth has not been great, the
grass and other vegetation is springing
up quite freely, and many believe the
ashes will yet prove a benefit to the dis
trict; and several people have tested the
fertility OF the debris thrown out by SOW
ing various kinds of seeds therein, and
watering with distilled water. In each
case the seed has grown, and the plants
have thriven wonderfully in their new
situation. So satisfactorily indeed have
these trials been, that the Government
have granted a sum of money To have
several portions of the district (Which
are covered with too great a depth OF
volcanic ashes for the covered vegeta-
ton to break through sown down with
grasses and clOvers as experiments on
large scale. If these are satisfactory, as
it is believed they will be, the greater
part, if not the whole OF the covered dis
trict will be sown with artificial grasses
in the Spring, before the dry and warm
weather sets in.
Ii has now been ascertained that the |
volcanic energy has been felt over a con-
siderable extent of country. At several |
points in the South Island increased ac-
tivity appears to have occurred just |
prior to the terrible outbreak at Tara |
vera on June 10th A boiling spring is |
reported as having made its appearance
underneath one of the glaciers of Mount |
Cook. Ruapehu, the giant mountain in |
the North Island, has a large lake of hot |
water on the top of it, and smoke is re-
ported to have been seen rising from it
on several occasions. The eruptive !
points on Tongariro, and the boiling |
springs on the southern shores of Lake |
Taupo, are all reported as having dis
played an unwonted energy recently, |
and the escape of the pent-up forces OF |
nature at 50 many different points can
not fail in soon bringing about state of |
quiet, without doing any material in
jury. The changes which have taken
place, though the Pink and White Ter
races are gone, are expected to largely !
increase the attractiveness of the district |
for tourists, large numbers OF whom are
expected from Australia as soon as the |
Winter is over.
During the last week or two Professors
Brown and Thomas of the Auckland |
University College, have been exploring
the disturbed district. Their report is
anxiously looked for. They have al
ready stated, however, that the Lake dis
trict is now safer for residents and tourists /
than it has been for the last one hun
dred years.
1t is now ascertained that the total ,
humber OF deaths, including Europeans,
amounts to 111-lNew Zealand "Her- |
ala OF July 18th.
Leper's Horrible Death.