Waimangu “Very Cross.”

“My mate Buckeridge was in the crowd when I went down to the side of the geyser at half-past two in the afternoon. We had a good look at the pool. It looked very cross; the water was in a very angry state.

“Buckeridge's first words were: ‘Surely you are not going out on that!’

“My reply was very short. ‘It has to be done,’ I said, ‘and now! So strip off your heavy clothes.’

“We both took off our coats and vests, and inside of one minute we were out on top of the geyser.