170 REPORT— 1891. 



got down to the lip of the crater on the north side. The ice- 

 field at the top of Euapehu is ahout one mile in extent — that 

 is, between the northern and southern points. Sharp ridges of 

 rock rise here and there, as may be seen by reference to the 

 plan which is appended to this paper (PI. VII.). Numerous 

 crevasses are met with, varying from 1ft. to as much as 

 15ft. in width, and of unknown depth. The crater-lake is 

 situate on the east slope of the mountain, between the three 

 peaks referred to, but much nearer to Paraetetaitonga and 

 Euapehu than to Te Heuheu : in fact, the ice from these 

 two peaks slopes directly towards the crater. The lake 

 is somewhat irregular in shape, being rather wider from 

 east to west than from north to south. In its widest part I 

 estimate the lake to be 500 yards, whilst its breadth would be 

 100 yards less. The crater- walls on every side are perpendi- 

 cular ; and to the surface of the water from the lip of the 

 crater the distance must be over 300ft., as I was unable to 

 reach the surface of the water by means of a ball of twine 

 which w^as more than 100 yards long. The south and west 

 walls of this lake are composed of solid ice, which go down 

 nearly to the surface of the boiling water. Below Euapehu 

 there is an exposure of black rock in the ice ; but nowhere else 

 on the two sides named are there any exposures of rock. On 

 the east and north the crater-walls are made up of scoria and 

 ashes, banded towards the east, and looking like ordinary 

 stratified rocks. The bands are of different colours, and have 

 a gentle slope to the north-north-east. Near the junction of 

 the snow and ashes towards the south there is a small water- 

 fall ; but I was unable to find out whether the water was warm 

 or cold. The eastern and northern sides of the crater are hot, 

 and in several places steam was issuing from the sides. 



The water in the lake was of a soapy or grey colour, with 

 a pearly lustre showing at times on its surface. It is in con- 

 stant motion — sometimes from east to west, and sometimes 

 from west to east. At periods of from ten minutes to twelve 

 minutes the surface of the water becomes intensely agitated, 

 and suddenly a great cloud of steam is given ofi', which hides 

 the surface of the lake for some seconds. This is followed by 

 a brief appearance of stillness on the surface, and a perceptible 

 lowering of the water, when a slow wavelike motion again 

 sets in, as if the water were simmering. This increases iu 

 rapidity and intensity until another steam-cloud is given off, 

 and another brief period of repose succeeds. I sat on the rim 

 of this crater-lake for more than an hour, watching every move- 

 ment of the water and every change in its appearance. Now 

 and then could be heard the falling of ice-blocks into the lake 

 from the cavernous walls which were to be seen towards the 

 western side, and the yawning crevasses on that side of the 



