The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-10-30
A RUINED WONDERLAND
It's Destroyer Being Most Ter
rifio Volcanic Eruption.


. I
The recent volcanic eruption was
the most terrific ever known in the
history of New Zealand. Mount Tara
vera and its twin cone Ruawahia, in
the Hot Lakes district of the North
Island, which have hitherto been
classed as extinct volcanoes, burst sud-
denly into activity. Immense volumes
Of fame were projected to a great
height. Dense clouds of smoke and
steam obscured the sky, while vivid
flashes of forked lightning played
through the pail Of smoke in all direc-
tons. Several violent shocks of EARTH
quake added terror to the scene. More
than one hundred natives persisted.
The district affected by the disaster
is known as the wonderland of the
world. Tarawera mountain, the scene
of the volcanic eruption, lies north and
south, rising from the south end Of Ia
rawera lake. two miles from Roto-
mahana. It is about $500 feet high,
with three table tops separated by two
extinct craters, the formation OF which
is beyond the memory Of man. Its
surface of bare volcanic rock contained
no vegetation. Although there are, or
were, two craters on the top of the
mountain there has been no eruption
within the memory of man, and the
Maoris had no tradition whatever re-
specting this mountain. Mount Tara
vera is about ten miles from the settle
ment of Tie Wairo village, which lies
between Ratakakahi lake and Tarawera
lake., about two hundred feet above the
latter, connected by the Wairo stream.
Two years ago Ratakakahi lake, which
is about three miles in length, rose to
nearly the boiling point This was
considered a most remarkable phenom-
cnon, as the lake was always cold be-
fore. There was also very strong
outflow down the Wairo valley into Ia
rawera lake, lasting for day. Since
then the Ratakakahi had remained al
its normal state. The shores Of Tara
vera lake are rugged, and rocky, and
steep; its waters deeply and darkly
blue. The lake extends some seven OF
eight miles lengthwise, and is five OF
six miles In breadth. The three fiat
cones of Tarawera mountains loom
loftily to the southeast 1900 feet above
the sea level, and eastward, through q
gap in the ranges, the towering peak
of Mount Edgcumbe is plainly visible.
through that gap in the ranges runs
Tarawera's outlet Ava to At0a (river
of the gods), past Edgcumbe and away
on to the bay of plenty. At some dis.
lance from its source the river forms q
magnificent waterfall, if.s' H'
The Rotonabana was one of the
smallest lakes of the lake district II
is now . volcano. It's form is very
irregular on the south side, where the
shore is formed by swamp;, three small
creeks are meandering and dischargine
themselves into. tho lake. In many
places Of those swamps warm water
streams forth, but mud pools are also
visible here and there, and from the
projecting points muddy shadows GOV.
cred with swamp grass extend almost
as far as the middle Of the lake. Al
its north end the lake grows narrower.
The quantity Of boiling water issuing
from the ground, both on the shores
and the bottom of the lake, is truly
astonishing. There are three principle
springs to which the lake owes its fame
First of all is the Te Tarata at the
northeast end of the lake, with its ter
raced marble steps projecting into the
lake, the most marvellous Of the Roto
nahana marvels. About eighty feet
above the lake, on the fern-clad slop,
OF a hill from which in various places
hot vapor was escaping. there lies the
immense boiling caldron in q crater
like excavation with steep, redldisl
sides thirty or forty feet high, and oper
only on the lake side. toward the west
The basin of the spring is about eight
feet long and sixty wide, and filled t
the brim with perfectly clear, trans
parent water, which, with the snow
white encrusted basin, appears of I
beautiful blue. like the blue turquoise
The fat-spreading foot of the ter
races extends far into the lake. Ther'
the terraces commence with low shelves
containing shallow water basins. Thes'
small water basins represent as man,
nutural bathing basins. Some of tha
basins are SO large and deep that ont
can swim about In them. Durins
violent water eruptions from the mali
basin SCANNING cascades may occur
At ordinary times but very little watel
ripplee over the terraces, and only thu
principle discharge on the south sidt
forms . hot steaming fall. Aftel
reaching the highest terrace there i
an extensive plslfQrns With . number
Of basins, i've or SIX let deep. theil