THE LOST TERRACES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 856, 30 June 1910, Page 6

THE LOST TERRACES.

CAN THEY BE RESTORED? It will bo remembered that some months ago a theory was advanced that tho Pink and White Terraces which had formed on the shores of Lako liotomaliana, and which were seen no more after tho eruption of ISSIi, had not been blown away, but had merely been submerged by the rising of the lake. The suggestion was then made that if a canal were cut from Lake Kotomahana to Lako Tnrawera, which is at a lower level and is only a short distance away, the former lake might be considerably lowered in' level and tho terraces revealed. The Minister in charge of the Tourist Department (lion. Thos. .Mackenzie) took the suggestion for what it was worth, and had its feasibility considered by scientific men, with the result that he is convinced that the terraces cannot be restored by this comparatively simplo operation. Valuable information was furnished to Mr. Mackenzie by Mr. James MacXcrrow, formerly Surveyor-General, and Mr. Percy Smith, who at one time held tho same positiou, and they do not consider tho project practicable. All the information Mr. Mackenzie has received from scientific men who wore on the spot immediately after the eruption leads him to I lie, impression that the terraces aro irrecoverable. The Minister went so far as to get an estimate of the cost of funning a channel between the two lakes, the figure being nbnul three thousand pounds. In reply to a question ;is to whether there was any chance of the Pink and White Torrac.es ro-f'or:ning, Mr. Mackenzie said thero appeared to lw the srimo thermal action us there formerly was in the region of the old Tink Terraces, but apparently tho action which was responsible for the White Terraces had entirely ceased. There was therefore a possibility of re-forming the Pink Terraces, but that would depend on the chemical properties of the water. It might be possible. Mr. Mackenzie continued, In form artificial terraces, ii.Ter which the waters from the geyser might How, and if that water contained the properties formerly possessed by tho geyser which formed the Pink 'JVn\icesit was not unlikely that the wonderful formation might' be reproduced if the level of ihe lake were lowered In afford space for it. There were indications in the short distance the B oyser now foil of pink formation, and if scientific men considered that (lie Pink Terrace might be re-formed by cutting a channel In lower (he lake the mailer would be worth considering. The mutter might be revived, but he would like to have „ talk with scientific mtu before he said auyLUiiuß further.