Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-04-15

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but also of what has occurred as re-
Gently as 1856 for it was in that year
that this whole section Of New Zeal
ana was torn all to pieces by violent
eruptions of two volcanoes. Vast
quantities of mud were elected, lakes
destroyed, and new ones formed.
Since then great changes hive and
are being effected by the action Of
rain washing the mud down into the
low places. From the veranda of the
government accom- dation house. situ-
ated as it is high above it all, a splen-
did view is had OF the whole scene
! of disturbance. though on this par
ticular day was somewhat circum-
| scribed on account of smoky condi-
tion of the atmosphere caused by the
numerous bush fires. The more dis
tant views were entirely obscured
To me it is wonderful md awful, and
| should like to have had time and
: sat down and contemplated the whole
scene and thought over il for hours.
/ But the guide says come on. We
| first descend about 500 feet by a
s.eep winding path TO the bottom of
an elongated crater of several acres
in extent, crossing its surface by
crooked path where in many places
it is so hot you can hardly bear your
hand on the ground Steam and hot
water is issuing from hundreds of
places, and even from cracks and
holes scores of feet up the face of the
cliffs on either side | was soon con-
graduating myself on having worn
my coarse heavy miners shoes after
hearing the complaints of the ladies
who had on light thin soled low
shoes We follow the guide very
carefully in single file because it only
requires a very casual glance to show
that it would be extremely dangerous
in very many places to get off the
trail by step or two. At one point
We pass quite near the side of the
center from which, about 10 feet up
steam is coming out with loud roar
and in great volume. The guide said
if it was a few degrees cooler it would
be condensed and the flow of water
would fill an inch pipe. No one had a
very great desire to linger in this
truly named inferno crater and we
are soon climbing out of it. Then we
descend again crossing deep fissure
leading into another crater and so on
up to a point as high as the first
starting point (but it is on the oppo-
site side of this crater. Here there
is small rest and shelter hut From
this point a near and splendid view
of the celebrated great Waimunga
geyser, now quiet but for several
years after the eruption displaying
great activity is had The name sig
rifles water rising like a New Zealand
palm. AT the time Of its greatest ac-
tivity an artist was here several
weeks painting a view of the whole
region. He had a camera all ready
adjusted and one day, because he had
sufficient wit to wait till the eruption
was at its height before he snapped
it, secured the best view extant. The
guide said the tourist department
paid him $3.50 for the negative. This
view shows the eruption arose fully
1,500 feet and in vast volume. After
allowing the ladies time to rest a bit
resume our trip. descending a very
steep, crooked trail into another
crater which leads us down TO the
shore of Lake Rotomahana (warn
lake, whose surface is LAO feet
above the sea. The water is of a
dirty milk color and ranges in tenn
perature from warm to hot
Here We go aboard an oil launch
for a three mile trip across the sur
face. At one place we rar in quite
close to some high cliffs from whose
face vast youmes of steam issue in
hundreds of places Here the wa
ter Of the lake is too hot To hold
your hand in. At another pace on
the shore of this lake the guide in
forms us there was a native village
that was totally covered by the mud
thrown out at the time of the "a a.
eruption, but there is not a thin,g
there now TO indicate one ever ex-
listed there This whole lake was
formed at the time while one was de-
stroyed that existed further back.
the site Of which was pointed out to
us. On reaching the opposite shore
we had difficult climb and descent
of one mile TO the shore of Lake
Tarawera, named after a mountain
rising from its shores and means with
a burnt, hot or heated point It's sur.
face is i,040 feet above the sea We
embark on another and larger oil
launch at a place called Re Arih
(the first born) for a six mile jour.
ney, stopping al enc point to allow
passengers TO 20 ashore and take a
little wax among another bunch Of
springs. Here at one place the traiF
passes between escaping steam Of 50
great volume and so hot that it is
best to hold your breath and run for
rod or two
This is quite a arge lake and Oh a
clear day the views Of he different
mountain peaks must be grand The
water is Of a deep blue color, clear
and cold We land at a little wharf
/ in a small bag with a nice beach
fringed with trees under which are
several tents Of parties here for the
vary e.vcol ont trrnt EEhfuv We a.