RABAUL IN RUINS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 3 June 1937, Page 9

RABAUL IN RUINS

MOST STREETS BLOCKED. ONE WOMAN STILL THERE. FEEDING THE WORKERS. (United Press’ Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 2. The special correspondent .of the Australian Associateu Dress agency, in a radio message from Rabaui, says it presents the sight of a bligiited township. The trees are stripped of ionage and tlie houses, widen are smotuerud in dust and ashes, are deserted, liie majority of the streets are impassable. Only one woman, Mrs Bigneil, ol the itabaui Hotel, who retusud to desert her post, remains, fcllie -s busily umploy-ed feeding tlie.lew remaining men' who are engagbd in the transportation of food supplies from stores at Aordup beach, where they are shipped to European, Asiatic and native refugees at Kokopo. The organisation is excellent, and there is no shortage of food at present. The Administrator of New Guinea (Brigadier-General W. R. McNicoil) advises European women and children to proceed to Australia as quickly as possible. 'The newly-tormed volcano in the vicinity of Vulcan Island is now 61U leet high and a mile and a half wide. It is emitting huge volumes of steam and ashes all day. The second eruption near Matupi is diminishing. It provided a wonderful spectacle at night. Several plantations on the north coast were spveieiy damaged. It is suggested that tlie cause of the outbreak was the recent inactivity oi tlie “father” volcano, situated in the Talasea district. It long has been recognised as Rabaul’s safety valve. European and native police are patrolling and safeguarding property in Rabaui.

A description of Rabaui and records of former eruptions in that area appear on page 7.