Travers.—On the Lake Districts of Province of Auckland. 11 
the Tarata and the hills surrounding, which is obtained from the western 
side. It is extremely difficult to give any description capable of conveying 
to the reader an idea of the remarkable character of the scene disclosed to 
view. Not only from the great geysers of the Tarata, the Ngahapu, and the 
Ruakiwi, but from every part of the ground composing the hills on the 
eastern side of the lake steam rises in clouds, after penetrating the superin- 
cumbent mass for depths of which we can form no conception. 
The Tarata lies at the eastern end of the lake, the base of the terraces 
projecting into it and into the stream which runs from it to Tarawera. At 
the summit of the terraces lies a huge cauldron, some 80 to 100 feet in 
diameter, filled to the brim with boiling water, as transparent as crystal, 
but of a rich blue color, contrasting most exquisitely with the marvellous 
tracery at the edges of the basin. The water of this basin is in constant 
furious ebullition, a column of it being sometimes thrown up to the height 
of 40 feet. Unfortunately the view of these tremendous jets, as well as of 
the surface of the cauldron is generally obscured by clouds of steam, but 
when the ebullition is intense the roaring sound of the escaping steam quite 
sufficiently attests the power which produces these violent effects. The 
silicious deposit from the water has given rise to the wonderful series of 
terraces for which the Rotomahana is so justly celebrated. These terraces 
are of a pale creamy white, whilst the water flows over them, and in detail 
of structure are of unsurpassed delicacy and beauty. Amongst these ter- 
races are numerous ponds filled with the water flowing from the basin 
above, and still retaining its beautiful blue color. As these terraces act the 
part of a refrigerator of the water from the great basin, which cools as it 
descends, one is able to enjoy the remarkable sensation of gradual changes 
from cool to hot in ascending, and from hot to cold in descending it, making 
it easy to select a bath of almost any desired bearable temperature. The 
favourite one, however, is about half way up the ascent, the water in it 
being of sufficient depth to afford the luxury of a swim. It is impossible to 
describe the delicate beauty of the tracery in these terraces, but they were 
compared by my wife, who accompanied me during my excursion, to petri- 
fied Yak lace and fleecy wool, disposed in the most tasteful folds and pendant 
masses. There can be no doubt that the whole presents an unparalelled 
scene, the steaming basin with the dark hills behind it, the rich blue water 
contrasting with the cream white deposit of the terraces, and with the fleecy 
clouds of vapour arising from it, combining to produce effects of the utmost 
beauty. Not far from the Tarata lies the great cauldron at the Ngahapu, its 
presence indicated by immense columns of vapour and by the roaring noise 
of a huge steam-hole close to it. In the basin, which is about 40 feet 
across, the water is also quite transparent, but very dark in color, owing 
