Premonitions of the Disaster. The Natives alarmed a week ago. Extraordinary Phenomena Observed.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 157, 19 June 1886, Page 2

Premonitions of the Disaster. The Natives alarmed a week ago. Extraordinary Phenomena Observed.

Rotorua, this day. I learn that for about a week past the natives in the Hot Lake district have been somewhat alarmed and excited because of certain strange phenomena which they observed. So strongly were they convinced that something serious was impending, that ■ they on several occasions refused to take tourists to see the lions of the place, and once or twice paities of excursionists had groat difficulty in persuading Maori guides to accompany them. At Lake Tarawera it was observed that the water rose and fell in a rapid manner such as had never been witnessedbefore,and alike phenomenon was to be seen on Lake Rotomahana. On one occasion as a party of tourists were landing from, a boat, the water of the Lake rose like a tidal wave, and those who had not landed had to wait till the v uve subsided before they, could do si>. Xt ir the White Ten ace many changes were observed in the holes and geysers, so that ihe Maoris were apprehensive of some impending disaster. Sophia, the well-known female guide, remai^d with reference to these phenomena — " Oh dear ! 1 have never seen anything like this before. [ don't like to go on • the whole place . has changed !" It was observable that the geysers bad been working with greater energy than ever was known before — the mud and stones ejected from them reaching points which had hitherto been beyond range. No doubt is now felt that these were premonitions of the terrific outburst of volcanic energy which has overwhelmed in ruins the great sjnatonum of New Zealand, and strengthened the claim of the district to the title of the Wonderland of the Pacific.