ROTORUA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3093, 12 May 1892, Page 2

ROTORUA.

Fkoji the Rev. Mr Evans, of Cambridge, who has just returned from a short visit to Rotorua, we have gleaned some interesting particulars as to the effect which the wonders of that marvellous regiou have upon the mind of the average stranger. The rev. gentleman had visited thermal springs in other parts of the world, but the tremendous vitality exhibitad at Rotorua, where the verv ground trembles with the power of the forces at work, rather amazed him. From some of the chasms came subterranean sounds, which Mr Evans ant inaptly likened to the row of mighty engines labouring away far below. But with all its weird charms, Mr Evans professed no desire whatever to reside there, but rather expressed the opinion that some day the whole affair would be blown up in a great outburst. In this connection we have lately had the pleasure of looking over one of the finest works yet published upon the Taupo volcanic zone. This is a very able report upon the whole district, including the circumstances in connection with the great volcanic outbreak at Tarawera on the 10th of June, 1886, furnished by Mr Percy i Smith, F.R.G.S.—at that time Assistant Surveyor-General—to the Surveyor-Gene-ral, and profusely illustrated with skotches, photographs, etc., by Messrs Boscawen, Talentine, Blythe, Spencer, and others, the book in question being presented to Mr L. Cussen, Waikato district surveyor, by fche author, and it would be difficult to conceive a more complete and instructive work of its kind. As might be expected from such a ready writer, Mr Percy Smith contfeys the information in a style at once t»king and easily understood, and the photos bv such artists as Charles Spencer and G. D. Valentine give a very clear idea of the terrible havoc done. But probably one of fche most useful portions of the now Surveyor-General's book will be found in the narrative of the premonitary signs of seismic disturbances, which were given before the eruption took place. The lessons. of the past are useful for the future, and a oaretul chronicle, such as the one under notice, would—in the case of future outbreaks—probably be the means of forewarning others, and thus save valuable lives. We give a short extract from the conclusion of the book, which, we may add, contains in its appendices an interesting account of the ascent of Ruapehu by Mr L. Cussen in ISSG:—" It appears to the writer that all the evidence we have tends to prove the existence of a roservoir of molten heated matter within that part of the great fissuro which underlies the mountains of Tarawera and Ruawahia, connected, of course, with the heated interior and with other parts of the great fissure. What the immediate cause of the eruption was is a matter of pure speculation." Captain C. E. Dutton, of the United States Geological Survey, in his description of the Hawaiian volcauos, says : " Volcanic action and regional uplifting are really associated phenomana, and the results of the same cause. When we come to enquire into the cause of elevatory movbinonts of the earth's surface, we only encounter a mystery. No solution has ever been gi von which does not go to pjeces under criticism."