FURTHER PARTICULARS REGARDING THE DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 135, 11 June 1886, Page 2

FURTHER PARTICULARS REGARDING THE DISASTER.

[FKOSI OUK OWN COKBE.S'I'ONIIUNT.]

Rotokua, this day,

Although the excitement has abated somewhat, very few eyes were closed in Kotorua last night. We had two oi^.three heavy shocks early in the evening, and though more are feared, I am now enabled to forward you further particulars of the disaster :- A number of women and children semi-nude rushed from their houses after tho first shock, and took refuge in the schoolhouse at Te Awahou, while others continued their flight towards Oxford and Tauranga. Mr E. Robertson and Mr Marchereau, in a coach, started for Wairoa, 11 miles distant, and on the way met several fugitives, who informed them of the sad fatality to the Hazard family, and also gave an horrifying description of the scene of desolation at Wairoa. Owing to the obstructions on the road Mr Robertson was unable to reach Wairoa in the coach. Subsequently, accompanied by Mr H. Dunbar Johnson, the Government agent, and Mr Roche, railway surveyor, he started in a buggy for the scene of desolation. Leaving the 1 uggy at Tikitapu bush they made the rest of thr journey on foot. They found the whole country covered with blue volcanic clay, which impeded locomotion. All vegetation was completely destroyed. The whole country side seemed to have been visited by a snowstorm so thickly was the volcanic debris strewn. The outlet of tho Rotokokahi Lake was found to be blocked'and the bridge covered with clay mud. The Blue Lake was an expanse of muddy water. At the village of Wairoa the party found the two hotels completely ruined, only the outer walls standing. The Temperance Hall, erected for the Datives by the late Mr Snow, was level with the ground. Hazard's house was completely wrecked. Constable Maroney, who had started from JRotorua on horseback before Mr Robertson and his party, with Mr Blythe, Government Surveyor, were digging for the bodies of Mr Hazard and the missing children. Mrs Hazard had been dug out alive, and comparatively uninjured. She had a most miraculous escape. The falling beams of the roof lodged on a cheffonier, and allowed just sufficient room to save her from being crushed to death. Two of tho .children were found dead beside her, her arm being around one of them. She complains of great stiffness and pain in the right leg, which was doubtless caused by the pressure, but otherwise she appears pretty well, vrnen, liun-cvoi, =Uc oubsequently realised the full extent of the dire calamity that had como over her unfortunate family, she became very nearly distracted. A stretcher was improvised, and the poor woman was carried on the shoulders of tho party to Tikitapu Bush, and thence by the buggy to Rotorua, which they reached at o' p.m. Miss Hazard, who is about 18 years of age, was rescued from the buried house by Mr. Lumsden, and her younger sister, aged 15, owes her safety to the exertions of a native woman. The young lady was completely covered with mud and derbris, and the Maori secured breathing space for her by clearing away the mud with her hands, and afterwards liberated her. Mr Mcßae, tho publican, gavo great assistance in rescuing the Hazard family.

The party found it impossible to visit the Ariki and Morea settlements which are so close to tho Tarawera mountain, that I fear all the natives must have perished. The bodies of some of the natives are still Tying in tho whares here. Twelve are known to have beon killed.