Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-27
Biggest in the World.
Locating and Measuring a Waterfall
in New Zealand, Which is Stu
pendOus Beyond Belief.
The Water Rushes Down Three Preci-
pices 815, Isl and 338 Feet Re-
spectiyely-AGr Grand Sight.

SSAOO1Abyy WhiSh SOA pare IL
measure for the loss of those unique
maIvels of nature, the pink and white
terraces, which were so suddenly destroy
ed by the disastrous earthquake of 1886
The credit of the discovery of the stu.
Fenduous waterfall, says Chambers's
journal, whioh is still unknown to the
world at large, but which is now found to
BE the highest of any hitherto brought &c
light in any other portion of the globe
rests with Mr.. Sutherland, we'll known
explorer of the west coast sounds, who
has taken up his abode for many years
amid these surroundings of solitary
grandeur, far from any inhabited portion
of the country, in part of New Zealand
still inaccessible except from the coast
Here he lives alone with nature in all
her pristine splendor, receiving news only
from an occasional passing ship, unless
perchance another pioneering spirit comes
across him in his wanderings in this pic
turesque and magnificent solitude.
few months ago small party of
gentlemen of scientific tastes started on
an expedition, not free from danger,
with the object of reaching and, if pos
sible, measuring and fixing the position
of the Sutherland waterfall, so called
after Its discOverer, who up to then, was
the only human being known to have &C
complIshed the feat. The FIRST step on
their journey, Milford sound, was
reached the 9th of September and here
were landed all the necessary swags (the
colonial term for q knapsack) and provi-
sions, together with material for canvas
boat for use inland in crossing Lake Ada.
The following account of their adventure
is taken from notes by one of the party,
Mr.. Mackenzie, M. 81. R., and published
the Otage Daily Times:
In passing, we must mention that the
grandeur of this spot can hardly be
realized by those who are not acquainted
with the New Zealand bays. Lovely as
is the peculiar beauty of the Swiss lps,
reminded as one constantly is in this
country of the unspeakable charm of its
picturesque valleys and snow-laden
mountains, yet there is an immeasurably
awe inns piring grandeur in this unknown
region, where sounds are the songs of
strange and beautiful birds and the rip
ping or roar of waterfalls and courses.
From Milford sound our party proceed
ed TO Lake Ada, to which stores, swags,
boat, etc., had to be carried bodily through
oAO Ouou, Ao -dSJ uhoCI OohIAS,
its uny1elding and prickly tangle. How
ever, the lake was reached; and next day
saw the frail canvas craft put together
which was TO carry the adventures across
it. This trip, says Mr.. Mackenzie, proved
a very dangerous one, the whole surface
of the lake being a mass of snags. Ac-
counting for this, he says that at some
early period a heavy avalanche is sup
posed to have come down and formed a
moraine across she mouth of the Arthur
river, "thus transforming com paratively
level fat of birch trees into a lake of from
ten to forty feet deep. The trees have
decayed between the air and water line,
she water preserving the timber, so that
now the lake simply bristles with sharp
edged tops of huge trees, some foot
above water, others six inches; some just
tipping the surface, and others at all
depths. The wind vas blowing a little
fresh. just causing ripple sufficient to
prevent our seeing the submerged points.
AS a consequence we were contin ually get
ting onto them, but fortunately none came
through, although the sixteenth of an
inch of cotton canvas was all that was be-
tween us and them.
"The lake is about four and one half
miles long by mile to mile and half
wide. On either side huge mountains
rise almost perpendicularly from the
waters edge, covered with snow and ice,
and waterfalls come tumbling down on all
sides. On the right Terror peaks and
Giants Gates $1,000 feet) are the most
remarkable features. Ducks of every
variety skim upon the surface of the lake,
such AS paradise, blue mountain, gray,
and teal. These abound and pay little
heed to strangers. Several gigantic
mountains-among them the Castle, the
Danger, Mount Hall, and Mount Daniel :
surround US, rising from 5000 TO 1000
feet high, and we saw some fine avalanoh-
es coming down the Barron slopes with
a laundering roar. Several rivers fall
into the head of the lake. We selected
the center one, which turned out to be
the POseldon, and after rowing ABOUT
two miles up, night came on, We camped."
81 must leave to some able writer" Mr..
Mackenzie says, "the work of picturing
TO the world in suitable language the
grandeur of what will soon be known as
the highest waterfall in the world. It
consists of three leaps in an almost di
rect line; but when standing about quar-
ter of q mile away it has the appearance
of straight leap with three breaks. The
two upper leaps are equidistant and the
lower one another"
From more detailed account We take
the following: "The water issues from a
narrow defile in the rock at the top Of the
precipice; it then makes one grand leap
of 815 feet into rocky basin on the face
of the cliff; issuing forth once more it
makes another fine leap of ISL feet, and
then goes tumbling headlong in one wild
dash of 338 feet into the pool right at the
foot of the precipice. 1t will thus be seen
that the total height of the fall is 1904
feet, thus making it the highest waterfall
that has yet been discovered in the world.
Proceeding right to the pool at the foot
-hewn out, we are told, by the heavy fall
of water from the mound of stones and
debris projected over in times of flood
at the expense, however, of getting
d1enched with ths spray-a splendid view
OF the whole is obtained; and when the
sun is shining the effect is enhanced by a
beautiful rainbow of colors of the most
brilliant kind conceivable. This bow is
nearly full circle, and the closer you 2 ct
to it the smaller it grows, till it is right in
front of your face-a orilliant-hued ring
yard in diameter"
Many uncoMmon ferns and plants as
we'll as rare birds were met with in this
solitary region. Among the latter was a
lovely bird, the scarlet wettlecrow, also
the New Zeslaud thrush and saddleback.
Kiwis, rowes (the wingless birds) and
Kakapo (the ground parrot) were fairly
plentiful, we are told.
Buffalo Bills Father.
Denver News.