THE GREAT ERUPTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 12 (Supplement)

THE GREAT ERUPTION.

EAST COAST ALARMED IN JUNE ’B6

EARTH SHAKES: BUILDINGS TREMBLE.

BRILLIANT DISPLAY OF VOLGAX 1C PYROTECHNICS.

About 26 to 3 this morning (said a pai':'g,'a:) , i in the “I’.B. Independent of .June 10, 1886) the iiihanitiuits of the town were thrown into the greatest sta 1 e o'- excitement by a continual succession of tremendous detonations to the westward which shook the ground and mad? doors and windows* creak. A number of people ran about tlie street in the greatest alarm and wonder and various surjin'ses were ventured as to the cause, some saying it was thunder, whilst

others said it was a terrible earthquake which was rifting and rending the hills asunder. On making our way to the (ire-bell stand, flashes of fire were seen shooting up in a dense c'ouci of smoke, which was rising in the west and gradually spreading out, leading to the conclusio- that a volcano had burst forth. The detonations continued for about 10 to 15 minutes, when the smoke cloud spread rapidly, and extended over a wide space, being illumined, from time tii time, by vivid, jets of fire which shot upwards. AVhen we went to press, the volcano (if it he one) was still in active operation, and

many peop'e, notwithstanding the intensely cold night, were out watching the grand spectacle.In its succeeding issue, the "Independent” gave further details of the consternation which was occasioned in this disitrict on account of the terrible eruption involving Mt. Tarawern. It stated that the ground here shook and the buildings quiveied. The quaking of the earth did not create so much wonder, as it was not an unusual ’’v'umsiar.ee, but the tremendous explosions could not be accounted l’o.Z One resident sa.id he thought at first be‘ore he went outside that some terrific battle must be taking place. There was a small tree-)ike cloud in the WNAY. with flashes of fire. It was a scene of uii.para Holed splendour. The dense cloud of smoke excluded the light of day from Gisborne. A local butcher experienced some amusement when lie called at various homes for orders at 9 o’clock. Manv people had slept on i’n the gloom and they soundly rated him for disturbing them! News front the Co.'st went to show that the conn, trv bevond Annum was covered with a thick covering of sand and volcanic dust. At Wnipiro Bay the houses and stores .were covered three or four incites thick.’ At Ttiparoa and AVaiomatatiai there was a similar experience’. The dust at the latter place was largely impregnated with sulphur. At Awnnui. the darkness was intense. Sand and dust fell so thick that the residents did not venture out e.f doors. The dust weighed double the weight of flour. Ashes fell on vessels passing along the Coast.

Wedding Day Scare.

Mr. T. E. R. Bloomfield, a nephew of and heir to Capt. Rond, had a 1 startling experience on his wedding day. Be was taking his bride home to - his property beyond Aluriwai and the driver took the wrong turning. Noticing the mistake Air. Bloomfield jumped out of the carriage and catching the" reins brought the vehicle to g standstill. Tf he had not done so the vehicle would have gone through the old broken bridge over the Te A.rni near his home.

Moa Footprints.

O'.i January 15, ISS4. a Air. Alorgan displayed at the "Telephone” office a piece of sandstone, bearing the impress of a.moa’s footprint 9 inches long l>y 8 inches wide, which he had found o:t the beach. Tt was similar to one wliic-h Archdeacon Williams had sent to the Auckland museum.

Tn October. ISS2, ATr. Cecil Ward rode from Gisborne to Napier in 20 hours.-