Artificial Geysers.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8199, 28 May 1906, Page 3

Artificial Geysers.

Dr A. S. Wohlmann, Government Balneologist, recently visited the Exhibition at Christchurch in connection with the proposal to reproduce, on a small scale, some of the of the thermal region in the North Island for the entertainment of visitors to the Exhibition Dr Wohlmann has just returned from Hamner, where he went to make a report on the springs for the Government. Speaking to a Truth reporter he said :— " What, we want to do in the Exhibition grounds is to reproduce exactly in their natural surroundings a geyser, some hot springs, and possibly a mud volcano. I propose to do this by taking a plaster cast of a small geyser, and building up a model of it here, and we can bring down some rocks and stones from Rotorua to give it the proper surroundings. It is only an experiment, and it may prove impracticable, but we shall do our best. It will be difficult to get a plaster cast of a geyser, because you never know what these things are going to do, and it may start to play quite unexpectedly. "The height to which the artificial geyser will play depends entirely upon the amount of boiler pressure and the volume of hot water available for the purpose. It is simply a question of expenditure and it is only fair to say that the Exhibition Commissioners have met me very liberally in the matter. As to the reproduction of hot springs with tinted water, Dr. Wohlmann explained that these pools would have to be made of concrete, and that chemicals would bo used to get the desired colour. The mud volcanoes at Rotorua varied in size from a few inches in height to ten or twelve feet, and it might be more difficult to reproduce them than it would be to make an artificial geyser.