VOLCANIC DEPOSIT IN THE WAIKATO RIVER.

Waikato Times, Volume 2188, Issue XXVII, 17 July 1886, Page 3

VOLCANIC DEPOSIT IN THE WAI K ATO RIVER.

Since Thursday morning the Waikato river has presented a, very nmd»iy appearance, and various conjectures have been ha/arded as to the cause. On many fonnor occasions the waters ha\e been discolouied after heavy rain*, but the colour has invariably been yellowish, while at present it is a hint of bimsh grey. Our Cambridge representative, writing ye»toiday, aay& : — " On Thursday the Waikato ri\er at Cambridge was noticed to bo very much discoloured, ir.ore so indeed than has been noticed after heavy freshen, while the river at present is rather low. One Cambridge West settler described the appearance of the river to be "as thick as a pudding," and on a clear glass bottle being tilled the water presented a milky appearance. On being tasted nothing peculiar was observed, the bottle not having been rinsed, and consequently had the sample taken been sent for analysis, the report would probably have been that, amongst other substances it contained ' traces of alcohol.' The peculiar appearance of the river was generally attributed in some way or other to the recent volcanic disturbances, and among other theories Orakei-Korako it dragged in, although that settlement is over twenty miles away from and tp windward of the eruptions." Yesterday morning several residents of Hamilton telegraphed to Taupo to inquire it any disturbance had taken place in that district. A similar answer was received in eaoh case, to the effect that while the river was perfectly clear at its exit from the Lake, heavy rains had fallen further north, possibly causing landslips. As we have said, many and various conjectures were made concerning the cause of the phenomenon, but nothing, satisfactory was ascertained until the arrival of Professors Hutton and Brown, who came down to Hamilton by yesterday afternoon's train from Oxford. A representative of this journal waited on the professors, and from them ascertained that the mud, which is of the true volcanic character, has flowed into the Waikato through the Waitapu Creek, which ii*es near Okaro Lake, and flows into tho VVaikato about three miles north of Orakei-Korako. The Professors passed this creek a few days ago, and observed large deposits of mud upon its banks, which doubtless the recent heavy ■rains have washed into the stream. Surprise has been expressed that this mud did not gravitate t>> the Waikato before, but we are informed by Capt. Steele that about ten days ago the river was discoloured in a similar fashion.