PINK TERRACES

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1931, Page 8

PINK TERRACES

RENEWAL OF CONTRAVERSY. Tliere is a revival of the old controversy concerning the fate of the White Terrace and the Pink Terrace, which were the most famous features of Geyserland before the Tarawera eruption in 1886. Rotomahana Lake was •so transformed by the outburst, when the great rift blown in Tarawera Mountain extended down to and right through the lake, that it is difficult for present-day tourists to gather an idea of the original appearance of the place. They boat under the steaming cliffs near where the Pink Terraces stepped down in lovely stairways to the lake; they are shown where the grey waters have drowned the site of the White Terraces. But the lake is so much larger than the old-time shallow, reedy lagoon, with its two islands, that visitors can only marvel at what lies before their eyes to-day and regret that they were not fortunate enough to behold the sights which sty entertained travellers, artists and writers half a century ago. Surveyors and scientists who inspected Rotomnhana soon after the eruption

came to the conclusion that the tremendous explosions which immediately followed the bursting forth of Tarawera and blew the bottom out of the lake, to rain it down in mud all over the land, had completely destroyed the Terraces. Mr S. Percy Smith, then chief surveyor in. Auckland, who had known Rotomahana well before the eruption,- expressed that view in bis report. But there always have been lingering hopes that at least one, if not both, of the Terraces may not have been burled up in fragments but may have been covered up in the mud of the eruption. Mr Alfred Warbick, the chief Government guide, who knows the district more intimately than any man living, is not satisfied with the official and scientific theory. He has been in thatwonderful area of the thermal regions since before the eruption, and he thinks that if the ovei-fioeded -Rotomahana were dewatered to approximately its olden level some of the Terraces might be revealed. Rotomahana is considerably more than a hundred feet above the original level, because of the blocking of the pre-eruption channel of exit, the Kaiwaka stream. The only objection that lias been raised to the cutting of a channel across the narrow isthmus between Rotomahana and Tarawera Lakes is the possibility of a flooding of the Tarawera River, which flows through the Rangitniki Plain. , This contingency, however,.i is very unlikely; the large lake, Tarawera, would first receive the overflow waters, and the run-off to the plains would be gradual. There is a good deal to he said in favour of the' simple engineering work suggested. Tt would anticipate and prevent any possible sudden rise of level of Rotomahana i.n the event of tlie blockage of the present subterranean outlets. A reduction of the warm lake level hv a hundred feet, or so would undoubtedly stimulate geyser action along the shores and enhance the attractions of Rotomahana for visitors. Even if the Terraces have utterly disappeared the wonders of the place would he increased by the drainage of the waters which have drowned some of the tlierJ mal areas. In that exceedingly active j part of the high shores where tTie Pink Terraces stood the chemical agencies which formed them are still at work. The steaming cliff face is bathed in a kind of warm, pinkish glow, the ethereal adumbration of the vanished beauty. The experiment of lowering Rotomahnria’s surface is worth trying; it. would cost very little, and it might reveal much of great interest.