TO THE EDITOR.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 2005, 29 June 1886, Page 2

TO THE EDI TOR.

Jib,—The natural convulsion through which re hare juab passed has divided thecommuoity. n this township into two hostile campa, the ilarmiats, who will accept no theory that does lot tend to confirm their fears, and the rationalists, who see in the recent outbreak i security for the furaie commensurate with ' She amount of force which has expended itself. lam doing what I can to preach the tatter gospel but to deaf ears unfortunately,, in^ many cases, even among; persona other-" wise well informed. "Unlike our neighbours of the East Coast we have escaped marvel- ' lously and have profound cause for thankful- •• ness. Not one of us can say that on that eventful night he suffered the slightest injury ' or inconvenience that div not arise from. personal fear. Unfortunately a section of the community seems determined to tier*;- • petaate this .fear, and in order to gLwi'ifc' apparent justification resorts to the wildest '; suggestions, a low rumbling sound become* -. v a terrific roar, the earth tremors which as yet have shaken nothing save their equainmity, are terrible shocks, Mokoia is sinlmig, the lake is rising at one end and sinking at the other, water no longer seeks its own level, natural law is abolished. If a night passes ""' without an earth tremor, or a morning shows ' little or no steam rising over the hill, it. is a. bad sign, the forces are only slumbering to break out presently with renewed vigour * "■ ; Personally 1 am suffering a mild martyrdom for my opinions.l am wicked for endeavour-i' ing to persuade people to remain in such * ' deathtrap^! am apathetic, I am actuated only by self-interest, and all because I refuse to shake in my sinful shoes. Ihavenowish to speak lightly of so dire a calamity, or to undervalue the lesson we should all do; well to learn from it, but surely we may learn our lesson and listen to reason at the same time,'' ~ surely we may sympathize with the suffering the disaster has entailed, and yet hold the opinion that in all human probability a similar convulsion may not occur again fox centuries. Some of my fearful friends teil me that they cannot sleep, but lie down at night with their loins girded and their lamps burning ready for immediate flight. I gladly prescribe a soporific for them gratis, culled from the great spiritual Pharmacopoeia;—the last verse of the fourth Psalm, to be taken at bed time.—l am &c. AUFBKD GINDSB3. Rotorua, June 23rd, 1886.