PEALE.] THERMAL SPRINGS AND GEYSERS OF NEW ZEALAND. 313 



CHAPTER II. 



THERMAL SPRINGS AND GEYSERS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



The wonderful hot springs and geysers of ISTew Zealand are situated 

 on the North Island, and may be divided into six groups, which are 

 scattered through the area that extends from Tongariro (a semi-active 

 volcanic cone), in about the center of the island, to the Bay of Plenty.* 

 This is a distance of about 100 miles, the direction northeast and south- 

 west. White Island, which is the seat of springs also, is about 30 miles 

 out at sea, and is on the same line of volcanic activity. In this area 

 three i)arallel lines of springs may be traced. The first is the most 

 eastern, and extends from Tongariro through the eastern part of Lake 

 Taujjo to Whakaari, or White Island, which is, as already stated, about 

 30 miles from the main land. On this line are the springs of Lake 

 Taupo, Mount Kakaramea, and those of Eotomahana. 



The second, or middle line, is much shorter, and comprises the springs 

 of Orakeikorako and the Pairoa Eange. 



The third or western line, includes the springs of Eotorua and 

 Eotoiti. Motu Horn (White Island), which is said to have hot springs, 

 is in the Bay of Plenty, four miles from shore, and may be considered 

 an extension of this line.t 



Tongariro rises 6,500 feet above sea level, and Lake Taupo is 1,250 

 feet above the sea. Lake Tarawera is 1,075 feet above the sea, and 

 Eotorua 1,013 feet. The rocks of the region are all volcanic trachytes — 

 obsidean and tuffs prevailing. At Lake Tanjjo they are probably rhy- 

 olitic, for Hochstetter calls them " Quartzous trachytic lavas." 



A noticeable feature of the region is the presence of so many lakes. 

 At the south end are Lake Taupo, 20 by 25 miles wide, and two small 

 lakes named Eotoahira and Eotokawa (Bitter Lake). About 40 miles 

 northeast of Lake Taupo, is an area of about 240 square miles. There 

 are sixteen lakes of which the following are the principal ones, with 

 their sizes and translations of names, as far as can be given : 



Lake Tarawera (Burnt Olift's), 5 miles by 7 miles. 



Eotorua (Hole Lake), 6 miles in diameter. 



Eotoiti (Little Lake), 7 miles by 1 to 2 miles. 



Eotehu (Nose Lake), 3 miles by 1^ miles. 



Eotoma. 



Eotokawau. 



Tikitapu Lake, 1 mile long. 



Eoto Kakahi (Muscle Lake). 



Okatairia. 



Okareka, 6 miles circumference. 



Eotomakariri (Cold Lake). 



Eotomahana (Warm Lake), 1 mile by 1^ miles. 



* There are a few other hot spring localities in New Zealand which do not deserve 

 especial mention here, and for the temperatures of which the reader is referred to the 

 table of springs in Chapter VII. With the exception of two localities in the South 

 Island, they are in the North Island, r\t the northern t;nd, near the Bay of Islands. 



tin 1881 the Gencsral Assembly or Parliament of New Zealand ])assed an act called 

 "The Thermal Springs Districts act of 1881," for the regulation of the areas in which 

 hot springs occur ; and under this act two districts were incorporated, viz : the Tatipo 

 District, and the Rotorua or Lake District. Medical officers were appointed, hospitals 

 erected, and surveys made, so that lots (;an be leased. All mineral waters, hot; 

 springs, and streams, however, remain vested in the crown. — (See New Zealand Thcr- 

 nuil Sjrringa District, cj'c, Wdlimjton, New Zealand, lbb2.) 



