Increased Volcanic Activity. ONE NATIVE BACKS OUT.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 161, 17 July 1886, Page 6

Increased Volcanic Activity. ONE NATIVE BACKS OUT.

The counties fumaroles were steaming much moie violently than we had noticed on the previous day and the whole space between Tarawera lake and Kakaramea mountain, at the head of Lake Okaro, was a mass of vapour, none of the surrounding landscape indeed being visible. The density of the vapour proved too much for the courage of one of our natives and he declined to proceed further. The other three with the guide and plucky little Toko ran down the hill, and there carefully reconnoitred the ground. We descended an incline covered with heavy boulders. The steam was rising in such a dense mass, that the vision did not extend ten yards, and the ceapeless noi&e of rushing steam, with its concomitants of intermittent quakes, did not make our position a very enviable one. At the bottom of this incline we found a

circular crater with slightly slopiiig sides. Its diameter would probably be 80 yaids, and it contained two or three feet of cold muddy water, but there was a water mark about 11 feet above the watei -level. From the sides of this ba.siu or crater some twenty or thirty iumaroles spovited out masses of steam. Adjoining this crater, and similar to it in its characteristics, is a .small round busm, also emitting steam fiom its sides. Waibiick at tiist thought that the large crater was on The Site of the Pinlc Terraco, and we had prepared a document (written on the back oi areceipted account) testifying to the fact that the Auckland Stah, expedition had been the tirst human beings to stand on the bod of Lake Rotomahana. Wai brick admitted Lhat lie had a lingering doubt as to whether we were really on the Tei race. PERILOUS DESCENT INTO A "YAWNING CHASM. Before us lay an immense hillock of made giouncl. On teaching the top of this we walked across a small stone-stiown plateau, and before us lay a yawning chasm -with precipitous sides. It \\ as apparently about SO yards wide at the top, and the stcepnets of its sides was due to the violent rush of filter which had doubtless cut it in two. Sttam issued fiom countless devices in the bottom and sides, and it was only now and then that glimpses of the water channel could be obtained. Warbrick crawled cautiously to the edge, ?,nd after a minute examination, declared that though there wa<* u gieal nsk of the sides of the chaMii fulling, he Mould descend. Little Toko, \\ ho has '-tuck to our heels like a dog, produced UiO yavds ol halt-inch lope from <i kitwhieh had been strungon his. back. Se\eial feet back fioin the chasm the 1 epoiter's stout lancewood Alpine-stock was dnven deep into the mud, and the bight of the lope being seemed to it, Wai brick lowered himself o\er the precipice. To guard against the fumes ot sulphur and other gas-.es which might possibly be met with at the bottom, he tied a handkerchief over In-* nostiiK, and in anothersecondortwo clouds of ctetim hid him from the gaze of the watcheib on the top The \ ibration of the lope showed that he was still puisuing his penlous descent. Presently the rope slackened, and u cheer of "All right" came out of the steam. Then the cloud cleaied away foi a moment, and we caught sight of the inticpid half-caste standing at tho bottom of the cha»m, waist deep in steaming mud. ltound him played fumaloles and mud volcanoes, and the sii^lit of thi^ apparent nonchalance cimids.t such appaiontly tenifying sunoundinu;s, inspired the journalist to atiempt to follow . Ne\ er shall I foiget the expciience. It belongs to that cia^ of events w hich is mdthbly lmpiesbod on oui memoi}'. In a ieu seconds., which seamed like horns, we stood waist-deep in warm mud, beside the guide, whoso du^ky face was beaming with tiiumph at the accomplishment or a teat which piobably not one man out of ten would June attempted. Waibiick waded tlnough the lushing mudcliaiged watei.s and planted on a, small pmiKicle a tutu stick, m a crack in which j we pi iced a piece of p.ipei. giving (.lie day and the name-* of the membeis ot the party who i cached the bottom.