Captain Mair's Report.

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

Captain Mair's Report.

Rotorua, Juno 10. Captain Mair reports that at the Moura Village, where 45 Maoris are buried, the mud, in a liquid state, is flowing into the Lake with such rapidity that the whole site of the Village has been shot bodily into the Lake. They floundered through, bufc finding no signs of life proceeded on to Ariki. They reached there in the afternoon. The whole front of Tarawera on this side has been changed by the earthquakes. The south of the mountain is blown clean off making an indentation like knocking in the front of a felt hat. This has formed a crater which is still astir. Immediately behind Arihiki is a very large steam hole near the White Terrace in violent action, and from it are springing immense clouds of black steam laden with dust. At Ariki there are forty natives covered .HO feet deep. The party had some difficulty in returning to Wairoa, where they arrived very exhausted. At Terehi four Taupo natives on a visit perished. Captain Mair says it is evident that the first outbreak was at the south end of Tarawera. The whole country looks like a large bush clearing, except that it is covered with grey ash instead of black. Tlie volcanic action, so far as Tarawera is concerned, appears to be rapidly exhausting itself, but at Rotomahana Captain Mair says the crater show every indication of being permanent, and will have in future to be the attraction of tourists instead of the Terracos. At dusk there could be seen from the top of the Pukeroa Reserve white clouds from the Hot Springs or geysers at the south-east end of Paeroa, and it is believed the thermal springs there have become more active. Since dusk Tarawera has been more quiet, but Rotomahana is more active, and belching steam clouds thousands of feet in the air.