Sounding the Waimangu.

Manawatu Herald, 22 August 1903, Page 3

Sounding the Waimangu.

A PERILOUS FEAT,

According to the Rotorua correspondent of the “ New Zealand Herald,” the feat undertaken by Messrs Buckeridge and Warbrick, in crossing Waimangu geyser in a boat, caused quite a sensation in the Rotorua district. Many tourists went out from Rotorua on the previous day, and remained all night to await a sight of the performance. Twenty-five hours only had elapsed between the two previous eruptions from the geyser, and an immense volume of steam rose throughout the greater part of the morning, rendering invisible the geyaeritaelf. At a quarter past one, there being little prospect of the steam clearing off altogether, preparations were made to launch the boat, and in fifteen minutes it was afloat. Mr Warbrick at once stepped in accompanied by Mr Buckeridge, and the .former took the oars So dense was the steam, however, that little was seen of the boat or men, except when they neared the edge of the water. Altogether the boat was in the water - twelve minutes, during which time Mr Warbrick rowed the full length and across, as well as going round in a series of circles, several times taking soundings. The greatest depth was 48ft. The water measurements of the geyser were found to be eighty yards broad and 134 yards long. Both men were, very warm when they had finished. The line with which the measurements were taken was almost too hot to handle, and the sash-weights used in sounding were too warm to hold after the boat had been hauled up the hill.