PEALE.] THERMAL SPRINGS AND GEYSERS OF NEW ZEALAND. 317 



sis jets of steam or water were counted from one point of view by Dr. 

 Hochstetter. The principal geyser is quite regular, spouting every two 

 hours to a height of 20 to 30 feet, the column having an angle of 70^. 

 The eruptions last two minutes, and the basin refills ten minutes after the 

 eruption is over. 



At this locality there is a beautiful cave, known as Alum Cave, in 

 which there is a beautiful blue pool of warm water. The springs ex- 

 tend some distance down the river and consist of mud i^ots, solfataras, 

 boiling springs, and quiet pools. 



PAIROA RANGE AREA. 



The springs of this area are from 4 to 16 miles north of Orakeikorako. 

 One is found on the summit of Pairoa peak, whose slopes are covered 

 with mud springs. There are also boiling springs and small gray and 

 pink mud volcanoes. The absence of siliceous dex)osits around one 

 group is noticeable. 



ROTORUA AREA. 



Eotorua is an almost circular lake, having a diameter of about 20 

 miles. It is 1,043 feet above sea-level, and has near its center a volca.nic 

 island. The principal springs are found on the west side of the Jake at 

 Ohinemutu. The bank of the lake is perforated with springs, and every 

 native hut has its own natural boiler which is used as a kitchen. One 

 curious spring (Kuirua) is strongly alkaline, and is celebrated for its 

 saponaceous properties. It is utilized as a laundry by the settlement. 

 The settlement is upon the lake side of a narrow ridge which is about 

 30 feet high. On the opposite side are several large ponds, in some of 

 which the water has a temperature of 200'^ F. 



About a mile south of Ohinemutu is Sulphur Point, where there is an 

 extensive plateau of siliceous material upon which there are ponds of all 

 sizes, mud holes, geysers, and bubbling sulphur basins, while sulphur in- 

 crustations are abundant everywhere. Many of the springs are noted 

 for their medicinal properties, and one of them is called " Pain Killer." 

 Other springs are found along the lake farther south. 



Whakarewarewa is south or southeast of the lake and about 2 miles 

 distant from it. The settlement is on the sides of a chasm in which is 

 a stream lined with fumaroles. There are several siliceous ijlateaus or 

 mounds upon which are geysers, boiling springs, and mud pots. There 

 are several hundred boiling springs and mud baths and a number of 

 geysers. The famous Wakiti, or Waikite, has a large cone made up of 

 circular terraces, which are 100 feet in diameter at the base, diminish- 

 ing to 3 feet at the toj), which is 15 feet above the level of the plateau. 

 In the summit the opening is funnel-shaped, and usually the water is 

 out of sight, although it is said to throw a column of water to the height 

 of 80 or 100 feet at certain times, which seem to be regulated by the con- 

 dition of the atmosphere or the direction of the wind. Ordinarily it 

 spouts about S feet every eight minutes. 



Herbert Meade, E. N., says that about the 20th of December it be- 

 comes active, increasing in vigor until February, when it culminates, 

 spouting 40 or 50 feet, and then subsides. 



The i)lateau upon which Parikohuru is situated has a temperature 100° 

 F. The water in this large basin is of a beautiful blue color, and boils 

 constantly. There are near it a number of small geysers that can be 

 started by throwing sod into them. A number of the springs are said 

 to be efticacious in rheumatic and cutaneous diseases. 



