RABAUL ERUPTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1937, Page 9

RABAUL ERUPTION

"SAFETY VALVE" NOT ACTING

BLIGHTED "TOWNSHIP

United Press Association—By Electrlo Telejraph—Copyright.

SYDNEY, June 2.

, The special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press agency, in a radio message from Rabaul, cays it presents the sight of a blighted township. The trees are stripped of foliage, and the houses, which are smothered in dust and ashes, are deserted. Most of the streets are impassable. .

Only one woman, Mrs. Bignell, of the Eabaul Hotel, who refused to desert her post, remains. She is busily employed feeding the few remaining men who are engaged", in the ■ transportation of food supplies from stores at Nordup beach, where they are shipped to European, Asiatic, and native places of refuge !at Kokopu. The organisation is excellent, and there is no shortage of food at, present.. The Administrator of ; New Guinea, Brigadier-General W. R McNicoll, is advising : European women and children ta ; go to Australia as quickly as' possible. , The newly-formed [volcano near Vulcan Island is now 610 feet high and a mile and a half wide, and is emitting huge volumes of steam and ashes all day- The second eruption near Matapi is diminishing It provided a wonderful spectacle at night. . ' . ■ Several plantations on the north coast were severely damaged.

It is suggested that the cause of the outbreak was the - recent inactivity of the "Father" volcano, situated in the Tarasea district. For a long time it has been recognised as Rabaul's safety valve. ; ■ ■

European and native police are patrolling and safeguarding riropejrty in Rabaul. ,