A CANTERBURY GENTLEMAN'S ACCOUNT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 143, 17 June 1886, Page 2

A CANTERBURY GENTLEMAN'S ACCOUNT.

(AvieJiiand Herald.} A gentleman who returned yesterday from Rotorua, and is now stopping at Hellier Elouse, Grey-street, gives the following account of his experiences on Thursday last and on the days immediately preceding the eruption : — On Sunday, the 6th instant, a party of six left Rotorua for Wairoa en route | for the Terraces. The day was fine. There was apparently no increased hydro-thermal ; action in the Rotorua springs ; there were no expressions of anxiety among the residents ; in fact, so far as could be observed, no premonitory symptoms ot the approaching disaster. On Monday morning the party, joined by several others, making in all two boat loads, started from Wairoa for Rotomahana. The day was beautifully clear and bright ; the Maori boatmen and Sophia (the guide) in the highest spirits. Several canoes were seen on Tarawcra, but no signs of the mysterious phantom war canoe, though some laughing- allusion was made by Sophia to such an apparition in days gone by. She also stated that a tidal wave, some two feet high, had rolled over the surface of the lake about a week previously, but this seemed to have in no way alarmed the Maoris. These remarks are the more important in that our party, among whom was Mr Bainbridge, were the last tourists who visited the terraces. A most enjoyable day was passed, all the wonders of the lake and its two terraces were visited, and at no point were indications of exuberant activity apparent. The party bathed in the Otukapuarangi basins, and returned in the evening to Wairoa, where they slept at Mr Mcßae's, Rotomahana Hotel. On Tuesday morning the whole party, with the exception of Mr Bainbridge, who remained at Wairoa, with the intention of having a day's shooting, returned to Rotorua, where my informant put xip at Brent's Hotel, Sulphur Point. Towards evening rain set in, and continued to fall heavily all day on Wednesday. Mr states that he retired early on Wednesday night, and was awakened from his sleep s.bout one a.m. on Thursday by the shock of an earthquake — not a violent shake, but a continuous motion. This soon roused the whole household, but there was no particular alarm, for the motion though unceasing, was not of a terrifying nature. He also rose and began to dress when, through the window of his room, he perceived a vivid light arising from the direction of Tarawera, which the window faced, He at once exclaimed — " Oh I It is an eruption!" Everyone then rushed out to the front of the house, and stood watching the flashing light, when, at a little before two a.m., from flickering flames the liyln condensed into a vast and massive pillr.r if fim rearing itself high up in the heavens. This gradually extented laterally along the range until it presented an apparent diameter of about half a mile. One tourist now started from Brent's Hotel towards Mrs Morrison 's Rotorua Hotel, where one of his friends was staying 1 , as he thought that from the Pukeroa Hill, which overlooks Mrs Morrison's, he could obtain a better view of the eruption. As he left Brent's the pillar of fire, which was accompanied by a continuous terrific roaring, seemed gradually to be eclipsed by a dense black cloud which settled down on it, hanging like a jetty pall over the flames, which were hidden rather than extinguished. The black cloud pillar rose straight into the air, and then the continuous explosive roar seemed to give way before a terrific thnnderstorm. accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning. At first starting from the pillar, the storm seemed to extend and settle down over the whole face of the heavens, lightning, both forked and sheet, flashed incessantly, and the thunder rolled from every point, the whole atmosphere being filled with the glare, and pervaded with' a suffocating, sulphurous stench. All along 1 the road springs had broken out in every direction, bubbling and boiling, and rendering the walk one of extreme danger. By this time the inhabitants were aroused to a sense of the imminent danger of their position, and rallying forth from their houses, were repairing towards Pukeroa through the dense darkness, unilluminated except by the lightning flashes, and picking their way by the aid of lanterns. The peculiar glare of th.c lights ning was very observable. It had not tho steel blue hue of the ordinary lightning flash, but was of a blood-red tint. During the whole of this timo a gale of wind was blowing across Rotorua, and towards the seat of the eruption, which, in the opinion of our informant, probably proved the means of saving the township. At about four a.m., however, the wind suddenly dropped, the smoke all over Rotorua became denser, and then a thick and heavy shower of ashes began to fall continuously. Then indeed the Rotorua people gave themselves up for lost. The darkness became thicker, no one knew in which direction to turn, and the dawn was earnestly prayed for. At about six a.m. the day began slowly to break ; below the jetty canopy a thin blue line was seen on the northern horizon, gradually suriounding objects became dimly visible, and it was seen that all the surrounding hills — the whole face of the country — was covered with white ash. Still the black pillar rose from Tarawera, but the sulphurous gases became less oppressive, and people began to breathe more freely. Meanwhile no news had been received from any part of the surrounding district. At a little after six a.m. Mac, the coachdrivcr, came round with a buggy and asked if any persons felt disposed to accompany him to Wairoa, whither he was bound, to see if any assistance could be rendered to the inhabitants. Most people thought, judging from the terrific display of volcanic energy whicli had been exhibited in that direction, any assistance would be useless, for the Wairoa 1 settlers were given up as lost. It was, however, fortunate, as it turned out, that Mac left, another coach following hjrn at a short interval. At about a quarter to nine one of the coaches returned, bringing four of the Wairoa fugitives, among whom were tho two elder Miss Haszards, in a state of deshabille, covered with mud and ashes, and dazed and stupified with the horrors they had undergone. The coachman reported that he had met these unfortunate refugees on the Ohinemutu side of the Tikitapu bush, and that it would have been impossible for him to have pursued his journey through the bush towards Wairoa, as the standing trees were all in flames, and many massive trunks had been thrown across the road. Wairoa was reported to be buried under several feet of mud. many of the houses having also being consumed by fire.