ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER. Rotorua, June 12.

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

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER. Rotorua, June 12.

Although the excitemeiit has abated somewhat, very few eyea were closed in liotorua last night. We had two or three Iveavy shocks early in the evening, and though more are feared, I am now enabled to forward you further particulars of the disaster :— A number of women and children semi-nude rushed from their houses after the first shock, and took lefuge in the schoolhouso at Te Awahou, while others continued their flight towards Oxford and Tauranga. Mr E. Robertson and Mr Marebereau, in a coach, started for Wairoa, 11 miles distant, and on the way met several fugitives, who informed them of the sad fatality to the Hazard family, and also gave an horrifying description of the scene of desolation at Wairoa. Owing to the obstructions on the road Mr Robertson was unable to reach Wairoa in the coach. Subsequently, accompanied by Mr 11. Dunbar Johnson, the Government agent, and Mi Roche, railway surveyor, he i started in a buggy lor the scene of desolation. Leaving the 1 uggy at Tikitapu bush they made the rest of the journey on foot. They found the whole country covered with blue volcanic clay, which impeded locomotion. All vegetation was completely des* tioyed. The whole countiy side seemed to ha\ c been visited by a .snow storm ho thickly \\ as the volcanic debris strewn. The outlet oi the Hotokakahi Lake was found to be blocked and the biidge covered with clay mud. The Blue Lake was an expanse oi muddy water. At the village of Wairoa the party found the two hotels completely mined, only the outer walls standing. The Temperance Hall, erected for the natives by the late Mr Snow, was level with the ground. Hazard's house was completely wrecked. Constable Maroney, who had started from Kotoruaon horseback before Mr Robertson and his party, with Mr Blythe, Government Surveyor, were digging for the bodies ol Mr .Hazard and the missing children. Mrs Hazard had been dug out alive, and comp natively uninjured. She had a most miraculous escape. The falling beams oi the roof lodged on a cheffonier, and allowed just puiiieicnl room to save her from being emshed to death.- Two* of the children were found dead beside her, her arm being around one of them. She comp'ains of great stiffness and pain in, the right leg, which was doubtless caused by the pressure-,, but otherwise she appears pretty well. When, however, she subsequently >ealised the full extent of the dire calamity that had ,como over her unfortunate family, she becalm e very nearly distracted'. 1 , A bt'i etcher was improvised^ and the poor woihun'ivas carried on theushoulders oirthc' party to Tikitiapu Bush, and thenco by the buggy to Hotorua, which thoy reached at b' p,m, Miss Hazard, who is about 18 years of age, was rescued from the buried house by Mr, Lumsden, and her younger skater, agedj.s,,

owes her safety to the exertions of a native woman. The young lady was completely covered with mud and derbris, and the Maori secured breathing space for her by plearing away the mud with her hands, hid afterwards liberated her. Mr Mcßae, she publican, gave great assistance in rescuing the Hazard family. The party found it impossible to visit the Ariki and Morea settlements which are so close to the Tarawera mountain, that I fear all the natives must have perished. The bodies of some of the natives are still lying in the whares heic. Twelve are known to have been killed.