THE VOLCANIC DISTURBANCE.

Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 23, 14 June 1886, Page 2

THE VOLCANIC DISTURBANCE.

(FROM OiTlt OWN SPECIAL REPORTER.; CLEARING THE RUINS AT WAIROA. Rotorua, Saturday Afternoon. There must hare been about 100 European visitors to Wairoa to-day, soino going in buggies, 6ome walking, some riding. Tho mud when it fell first was hard on tho BUrfaco, but owing to the large trafflo on it it has worked into a Bort of mortar, making the road very slushy and hard for walking. Some of the coaches did not venture to go through tho bush, so that thoso who had come hod to walk from' the Rotorua side of the bush. The road in parts is vory narrow, owing to tho mud building up against tho banks, so that it is impossible .in some places for two vehicles to pass one another. A great many cattle are sure to bo starved to death. Numbers of the poor beasts wore seen running about the road, evidently in search of something to eat. Pure water is also hard to find. The roadman Was at work shovelling tho mud off tho bridge. The appoaranco of the ruiuß of Wairoa is sorrowful in the extreme, the whares being buried to tho ridgo and tho people who survive being in a nude state. Tho mill is in piecos. Only one or two whores in the whole sottlcmont haTO outlived the oruption, and it is to tho shelter afforded by thoso places it is owing that any persons havo been saved. Only the ceiling of one of tho front sitting-rooms of M'Eae's hotol has romnined up. The roof of Mr. Humphrey's hotel did not entirely break through, and men were yostorday hard at work shovelling the mags of mud from off it. Tho roof of Mr. C. Rogors' storo fell in, ana tire caino with M'Rao's storo. Men are now engaged talcing the goods out. Mr. M'Rao is putting his stores into tho tfoom that was left whole, and Rogers is having his carried into Humphreys' Hotel. The fences are no obstacles against ono walking whore ono likes : only a. few inches of them are aboro tho surface When the search party reached Wairoa the bodies of four natives had boon recovered — two women, one man, and ono ohild. There are supposed to be five or six moro dead Maoris buried at Wairoa. Gangs of natives wore busy all day excavating their whares, or what remained of thorn, and -bringing what portion of the goods they oould rake out to Rotorua. The number of cats they have brought back with them was vory notiooablo. Coach-loads of poople havo been coming hero overy day from all parts of the oountry Binco the oruption took place. The Postmaster, Mr. Dansoy, and his oblo assistant, Mr. Gardner, have boon kopt bard at work telegraphing day and night. In fact, sin«o Tuesday neithor of these officers have laid their toads oil their pillows through the great demand made upon them. Unless telegrams are made argent they havo no chance of getting away. Everyono is surprised at their being able to stick to thoir • posts, and work under such trying circumstances, when everyone elso about tho place seems utterly unable to do a hand's turn. It wtts f oportod last night that a frosb outbreak had occurred at Okataiua, but nothing has been seen to-dfty Us confirm the statement. [Okataina is a lsko about coven miles north of Ruawahia.] SntfaiY", 0 a.m. Dr. Gindcrß reports increased volume in the hot springs, and also incroasod tornperature. This was yesterday 98, and to-day is 105. Mr. Burt is positive the Terraces are destroyed, as tho whole locality is in eruption. 10 a.m. The volcanoes are increasing in activity. 5.30 p.m. A slight shock of earthquake was f olt at 11 o'clock. During Divine service in the Maori Chapel a geyser broke out, the steam coming up amongst -the congregation. THE SCENE AT BOTOMAHANA. 7.30 p.m. Have visited Rotomabana. This lake is, beyond doubt, the centre of the eruption. I From the hill overlooking the place where : the Pink Terrace Btood the site of tho lake j presents the appearance of a series of j craters belching up scoria, stones, and columns of smoke and steam. Along the creek which carried tho waters of Okoro Lake into Rotomnhana four volcanoes have broken into eruption, and are belching out back stones. From the clouds of smoke and steam overhanging Rotomahana, it is impossible to soe whether anything of the lake remains, but as far as could be judged of the position of tho Pink Terrace, it is occupied by a crater, from which showers of stones are issuing. The wholo aspect of tbo lakeBide leaves no hope that the Terraces have escaped destruction. Seven square miles of country round Rotomahana are covered with adeop coating of grey earth, dry, and resembling Mahurangi Jimo in appearance Okaro Lako is undisturbed, and Kakaramea Mountain shows no signs of eruption. The views I obtained of Tarawera Mountain also show that its outline is unaltered.