Earthquakes at Taupo.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 121, 30 August 1895, Page 2

Earthquakes at Taupo.

Wellington, August 27. _ Mr Park wires from Taupo this morning :—" The mailman from Tokaanu reports that everyone except the two storekeepers have left Tokaanu, even the Maoris, as they fear the bottom will fall out of the place. They had thirty six shocks on Friday, pretty severe, but no damage. That is the day we had so few."

The Botorua correspondent of the N.Z. Times says : Every thing is now reported as being comparatively quiet at Taupo, and although under the circumstances the excitement was pardonable, there is no doubt that the reports were somewhat exaggerated. Still, a considerable amount of damage has been done which will take both time and money to rectify. Mr D. Bos3, of the Terrace Hotel, is the principal sufferer, as besides the damage done to the building itself and the terraces, the Onekeoneke hot creek, which flows through his ground and supplies the baths, has been diverted into some underground channel. Mr Boss's hotel is the nearest building to the Tauhara Mountain, which was undoubtedly the centre of the disturbance. This mountain is surrounded by boiling holes and fumerholes and solfataras, and at its foot is to be found the most extensive deposit of sulphur in New Zealand. It is about half way between Tongariro and Tarawera, and has been evincing strong signs of activity for some time. The natives at Taupo showed much more fear than the Europeans and many of them are alleged to have cleared out altogether. One or two have reached Botorua, and declare they will never return, aa the place has been " given over to the devil." The people who have been living in tents for some nights, in spite of the cold, are returning to their homes, and getting the dismantled chimneys into order. At Wairakei, the show place, this side of Taupo, but little real damage has been done, and the interesting sights there have not been affected in any degree. At Whakarewarewa, the Pohutu Geyser has been very active during the last day or two, but not in any greater degree than what is periodically looked for. The great cooking pool there, Te Pareko* huru, has also been boiling furiously of late. The various springs here are at their normal temperature with the exception of Hinemaru, which is frequently used for cutaneous diseases ; this now reaches 144 deg., its usual temperature 118 deg. The painkiller spring is correspondingly lower. For some time past prospecting work has been going on near the Priest's Bath, with the view of obtaining an increased supply at a higher temperature. What, is regarded as an ample flow has now been struck, the temperature of which is increasing, and as it issues from the ground now gives 122 deg. As-a contrast, the thermometer close by, last night, recorded 22 degrees by frost.