366 
rorULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
THE GrEYSERS, HOT SPRINGS, AND TERRACES 
OF NEW ZEALAND. 
By JOSIAH MARTIN. 
[PLATE IX. J 
T HE islands of New Zealand have been justly celebrated for 
their remarkable and beautiful scenery ever since the ex- 
plorations of the illustrious Captain Cook opened up for our 
nation a second Britain among the waters of the great Southern 
Seas. 
The Alpine ranges, glaciers, fiords, and sounds of the South 
Island, and the volcanic formations of hot lakes, geysers, boiling 
springs, active and extinct craters, with the marvellous sinter 
terraces of the North Island, have excited the wonder and 
admiration of travellers of every class. The geologist, botanist, 
and artist have alike been enchanted with the native grandeur 
and picturesque beauty of our mountains, forests, lakes, and seas. 
The line of active volcanic action (see fig. 1 ) runs in a N.E. 
direction from the great active crater of Tongariro (which is 
situated near the centre of the North Island 6,500 feet above the 
level of the sea), embracing a belt of country about twenty miles 
on the N.W., to the insular crater of White Island in the Bay of 
Plenty, a distance of about 150 miles. 
In this area is included lake Taupo, and the hot lake districts 
of Rotorua and Rotomahana ; with geysers, sinter terraces, 
solfataras, fumaroles, mud volcanoes, hot springs and alum 
caves, in such profusion and of such magnificent proportions 
and combinations, as to present scenes unsurpassed in any other 
part of the world. 
Tongariro and the district immediately surrounding it are 
exceedingly difficult of access, the native owners of the property 
being very jealous of excursionists, in whom they see only 
political agents, suspected by them of designs upon their 
territory. But an enterprising artist has lately succeeded in 
reaching the mountain, and making the ascent ; but not with- 
out great exertion, and many vexatious hindrances. 
