380 
They say, that in former times before the breaking through of the 
Waikato to the North, the lake had stood at that height. The 
second terrace is 300 to 400 feet above the lake, and forms ex- 
tensive plains round about the lake. Yet, it is only the third stage 
that leads on to the pumicestone table-land 700 to 800 feet above 
the lake. The formation of the terraces is most perfect in the 
Kuratao and Waikato valley upward from the lake, and along the 
eastern side of the lake. 
The climate of the Taupo-district is not so mild, as the climate 
of the coast districts ; especially the winter-season is cold and chilly. 
The rough blasts so frequent here are partly to be ascribed to the 
high mountain-ranges of the country. 1 We had sufficient proofs of 
it. The weather, unusually tine and pleasant in the first half of 
April , had undergone a total change during our stay at Pukawa. 
The bright aftersummer was followed by a rough and blustering 
autumn. On the 15 th April, after a long calm, suddenly a N. W. 
gale broke forth, which became really dangerous during our pas- 
sage across the small southern cove of the lake near Te Rapa, 
our canoe being very rude!}" tossed to and fro by the squally 
waves of the lake. The Northwester was followed on the 
16 th April by chilly blasts from southwest, which lasted three whole 
days, accompanied by heavy showers of rain and pelting hail- 
storms. In the mountains it snowed. The temperature fell during 
those storms at night as low as 38° 7 F. , nor did it rise even 
during the day above 54° 5 F. , so that we found the chimney-fire 
at Mr. Grace’s quite comfortable. The lake during those days pre- 
sented the appearance of a wild sea. White-foaming surges were 
rolling towards the shore, producing a roaring surf as at the open 
sea-coast; terrible blasts came breaking forth from the ravines and 
valleys on the South-side of the lake. In mad uproar they swept 
1 The inhabitants of the Taupo country distinguish four principal directions 
of the wind : 
marangai = stormy Northeaster with rain, 
tuariki = Northwester with rain, 
hauauru = West wind, 
longo = South and Southwest wind. 
