From Parliamentary Papers.

Manawatu Herald, 6 September 1894, Page 3

From Parliamentary Papers.

Taken as a whole the Franz Josef glacier is well worthy of attention, says the Lands Report, the combination of ioe, snb-tropioal plants, fern trees, and rafca bush making it not easily forgotten. On the flat below the Doughboy, visitors can bathe in a hot spring, temperature 180 degrees, which they can cool by letting in some ice water. Almost anywhere at the depth of six feet below surfaoe the water found would be warm. The Unser Fritz waterfall, with its small glacier and enormous precipices is a feature of the glacier, nnd after rain is raagnificient. The total heighth of the fall is 1,209 feet sheer. In a distance of 8£ miles the glacier descends from 9,620 feet to 692 feet above sea level. The next paper contains notes on the present state of the country immediately round the site of the eruption of Tarawera. Prior to the eruption, Botomahana lake covered a space of about 185 acres. At the time of the eruption the whole of this lake was blown up, and the water and mud scattered far and wide. In its place was left a deep chasm. Prior to the eruption there was a valley but no water in it, but soon after, however, a lake formed here, following the Hue of the great chasm due to the outburst ; but this was separated from Botomahana proper (or the little lake which occupied its site shortly after the eruption) by some craters and hilly ground now all covered by water. This new lake, which was formed shortly after the eruption, was called Botomakariri, after a little lake of that name which formerly existed not very far to the westward of the present lake, but which was completely obliterated by the eruption. The level of Botomakariri was SO feet below the level of Botomahana, but soon after the eruption the two lakes became merged into one, and now roughly cover 6,600 acres, and the waters have risen 420 feet in the last eight years. The lake as at present existing is bounded on all sides by steep hills, which formed the walls of the great crater in June 1886. The whole of this space now covered by the waters was at that time occupied by a dense impenetrable cloud of steam, frequently rising to a heighth of 15,000 feet. The valley of the Kaiwaka river, r strong hot stream, has been filled with ejected matter from the lakeorater, to a heighth of 93 feet above the level of the present lake. On the Tarawera mountain, near where the first outbreak took place is a great chasm which splits the mountain-top from end to end for a distance of three fourths of a mile. The first outbreak took place doubtless along an old rent or chasm (of which, however there was no sign on the surface.) As the eruption increased, the imprisoned forces thrust through the side of the mountain and there formed a fearful chasm. The opening of this chasm continued through what is now the lake, and, it is believed, as soon as it reached Botomahana lake, the waters rushed in, and coming in contact with the molten matter below, caused the second great explosion which ruined the Terraces and covered the country for miles around with rocks, sand, mud and ashes.