VOLCANIC ERUPTION AT TONGA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1363, 6 October 1886, Page 3

VOLCANIC ERUPTION AT TONGA.

Auckland, October 5. The «.«. Arawata, which has arrived from the Islands to-day. brings the following news dated Fiji, September 30th„ ... The French war vessel Deeres, which came into Levnka on Sunday, reports that while on her way from Samoa to Tonga they passed close to the Island of.Nioafou, which was in a terrific state of eruption They did not try to land to see if a*-y of the inhabitants remained alive. On reach ing Tonga they reported the matter to the Tongan Government, which at once chartered the s.s. Suva to proceed to the scene of the disaster. On arriving there Captain Dobb found about three parts of the Island gone, and from a lake in the centre a mountain 200 ft high had been thrown op Tee eruption commenced with a vary heavy thunderstorm, which frightened natives and nude t-em all run to one e» d cf the island. Fortunately it was the only rafe place In the island. All the villagi s were destroyed, as would also have been the inhabitants had they remained in thel own villages. No lives were Th ,j island was covered with vo'oanic sand and dust similar to that at Tarawera, the depth varying from 2ft to 20ft. The Suva connecta with the Arawata nex trip to take 'visitors to the eruption The Premier had ’beau there a few weeks ago, when eevero earthquakes were experienced.