A Canterbury Gentleman's Account.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 144, 18 June 1886, Page 2

A Canterbury Gentleman's Account.

(Auckland Herald.') , A gentleman who returned yesterday from Rotorua, and is now stopping at Hellier House, 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 he observed, no premonitory symptoms of 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 Tarawera, 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 up 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 about 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 lio and began to dress when, through the ndow of his room, he perceived a vivid ;ht arising from the direction of Tarawera, rich the window faced, He at once claimed — " Oh 1 It is an eruption 1" eryone then rushed out to the front of 5 house, and stood watching the flashing ;ht, when, at a little before two a.m., >m nickering flames the light condensed to a vast and massive pillar of fire rearing elf high up in the heavens. This gradUy extented laterally along the range til it presented an apparent diameter of jlpbout half a mile. One tourist now started Hfrom Brent's Hotel towards Mrs Morrison's Ktotorua Hotel, where one of his friends was ntaying, as he thought that from the PukeBJ&ajnil, which overlooks Mrs Morrison's, B|l|aß^yateaaniia better view of the erupH^p^^C^^^^W^^^#E^*ploud which ■ptftleadWnoiTrc; hanging uk» a jetty pall ■over the flames, which were hidden rather Sfman extinguished. The black cloud pillar HJgbse straight into the air, and then the continuous explosive roar seemed to give Slvay before a terrific thnnderstorm, accomPpanied by vivid flashes of lightning. At gprßt starting from the pillar, the storm Keemed to extend and settle down over the liwliole face of the heavens, lightning, both Eaorked and sheet, flashed incessantly, and BJihe thunder rolled from every point, the Igijivhole atmosphere being filled with the glare, gpnd pervaded with a suffocating, sulphurous lyjjitench. All along the road springs had gQuroken out in every direction, bubbling and Spoiling, and rendering the walk one of fppxtreme danger. By this time the inhabitants were aroused to a sense of the imminent Ipanger of their position, and rallying forth gprom their houses, were repairing towards |3?ukeroa through the dense darkness, |%nilluminated except by the lightning fcfiashes, and picking their way by the aid of planterns. The peculiar glare of the lightening was very observable. It had not the ti&teel blue hue of the ordinary lightning l&flash, but was of a blood-red tint. During the whole of this time 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 j below the jetty canopy a thin blue line was seen on the northern horizon, gradually surrounding 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 coachdriver, 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 which had been exhibited in that direction, . any assistance would be useless, for the Wairoa settlers were given up as lost. It was, however, fortunate, as it turned out, that Mac left, another coach following him at a short interval. At about a quarter to nine one of the coaches returned, bringing four of the Wairoa fugitives, among whom were the 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, aa 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.