The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-08-02

mutu is situated is said to be now at
lower level by something over
three feet. But whether this state
ment is based upon a good founda-
tioa, or whether the apparent diff
erence is due to fuller supply of
water in Lake Rotorua, will require
some time to determine with GER
tainty.
Earthquake shocks are still far
more common than was the case be-
fore the great eruption, but they
have hitherto resulted harmlessly.
Several of the new volcanoes which
have been opened up have sent
steam and flames to very great
height on different occasions, some-
times to height of upwards of
5000 feet, but these fits of energy
are of short duration, and the resi-
dents in the district give little heed
to them.
The large quantity Of volcanic
ashes which was thrown out in the
first terrible outbreak, and which
has spread over some 100000 acres,
are now found TO be not hurtiul 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 benefit to the
district; and several people have
tested the fertility of the debris
thrown out by sowing various kinds
of seed therein, and watering with
distilled water. In each case the
the seed has grown, and the plants
have thriven wonderfully in their new
situation. So satisfactory indeed
have these trials been, that the Gov
ernment have granted sum of
money to have several portions of
the district (Which are covered with
too great depth of volcanic ashes
for the covered vegetation 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 great
er par, if not the whole of the COW
cred district will be sown with artifi-
cial grasses in the spring, before the
dry and warm weather sets IN.
1t has now been ascertained that
the volcanic energy has been felt
over considerable extent of coun-
try. AT several points in the South
Island increased activity appears to
have occurred just prior to the terri
BILE outbreak at Tarawera, 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 reported to have
been seen rising from it on several
occasions. The eruptive points on
Tongaririo, and the boiling springs
in the southern shores of Lake Tau
pc, are all reported as having dis
played an unwonted energy recently
and the escape of the pent-up forces
of nature at so many different points
cannot fail in soon bringing about a
state of quiet, without doing any
material injury. The changes
which have taken place, though the
Pink and White Terraces 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 Pro.
fessors Brown and Thomas o1
the Auckland University College
and Professor Hutton of the Cante.
bury College, have been exploring
the disturbed district. Their repor
is anxiously looked for. They have
already stated, however, that the
Lake district is now safer for resi-
dents and tourists than it has beer
for the last one hundred years.
1t is ascertained that the tota
number of deaths, including
Europeans, amounts to ILL N
Y, Herald,