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of the landscape. Lake Rotomaliana, clisehars^Ing its 

 surplus water by an outlet two miles long into the Te 

 Arigi inlet of Lake Tarawera^ almost at the foot of the 

 mountain, was itself but a small basin, one mile in 

 extent, but its lovely cascade Terraces or steps were the 

 greatest attraction to visitors. They will never again 

 be seen : Te Tarrata, the White Terrace, and Te Otuka- 

 purangi, the roseate pink, have disappeared for ever. 

 I herewith give the description of these wonderful 

 Terraces or beautiful steps as is given in " Nature " 

 (July 29/86) . It was on either shore of the Lake Ro- 

 tomahana that they were situated. "The largest of 

 these singular formations was Te Tarrata or the white 

 Terrace, (1130 ft. above sea level) the outline of which 

 assiimed a semicircular form and spread out at its base 

 as it sloped gently down to the margin of the lake ; the 

 broad, flat rounded steps of pure white silica rose tier 

 above tier white and smooth as Parian marble and above 

 them terrace after terrace mounted upwards, rounded and 

 semicircular in form. All were formed out of a deli- 

 cate tracery of silica, which appeared like lacework 

 congealed into alabaster of the purest hue ; crystal pools 

 shaped as if to resemble the form of shells and leaves 

 and filled to their brims with water blue and shining as 

 liquid turquoise charmed the eye, while around the edge 

 bright crystals of silica formed incrustations which 

 made them appear as if set with a margin of miniature 

 pearls. At the summit of the terrace was a crater of 

 200 feet in diameter filled to overflowing with brilliant 



