NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1319, 3 November 1914, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

The British ships which suffered damage in the fight off Heligoland have been fully repaired, and are again fit for active service. One of the destroyers which was in the thick of the fight and was damaged considerably by the fire of the German cruisers is as perfect an engine of war as when she steamed boldly into the Heligoland Bight to challenge the enemy. There is this difference. She now displays in a prominent place a metal plate bearing the words, “Heligoland, September 4, 1914.” Other ships which did prominent work on that same occasion will, in due course, possess a similar badge of honour.

Increased thermal activity has been recorded recently at Rotorua in spite of the prolonged spell of dry weather, says the Auckland Herald. At Whakarewarewa Pohula geyser has been remarkably active, playing often to a great height and several times during a day. The smaller geysers there have also been playing frequently. Although the old crater of the great Waimaugu geyser is now dry and hard, there are many signs ot increased thermal activity around it. Tourists can no longer enjoy the unique experience ot walking across “frying pan flat,” a detour having to be made. All along the tracks from Waimaugu to Lake Rotomahana are signs of much thermal action, and it is thought by some that another p/eVc upheaval may take place soon, either where the Waimangu geyser played before or else at some other spot along the bed of the hot stream.