NEW HEBRIDES ERUPTION

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1929, Page 11

NEW HEBRIDES ERUPTION

XEW ZEALANDER REPORTED SAFE The New. Hebrides group, where a disastrous eruption has occurred, lies about SOO milea west of Fiji and 250 miles north-east of New Caledonia. Ainbrym Island is situated between Pentecost Island to the north and Tasiko Island to the south. The group is under the administration of British and French officials as provided for by an Anglo-French convention of 1906 and a protocol of 1914. Tho native population of the group numbers about 60,000. A radiogram ” was received in Auckland on Wednesday by tho secretary of the Presbyterian Foreign Missions, the Rev. W. Mawson, recording the eruption and the destruction of the mission station at Craig Cove, which is near the western end of the island.: In regard to the reference in the cablegram to a mtasionei 1 named Taylor, - Mr. Mawson said the only missionary on tho island was Mr. C. R. Stringer, of Oamaru, who was sent there last year. The radiogram was despatched on Monday from the inter-island steamer Malinoa. Mr. Stringer reported: • “All safe.”

This is tho second time that such a disaster has occurred in the vicinity of the Presbyterian Mission at Ainbrym Island. The volcano was in active eruption for some days from December G onwards in 1913. On the first day six new craters were formed on the west coast. On the next day Mount Minnie collapsed in tho centre. , Tho mission station and a fine mission hospital at Dip Point a lew miles from Craig Cove were demolished, the volcano breaking out right underneath the buildings. Dr. Bowie was able to get the patients away to the boats and escape just in time. There were many casualties among the native population in tho west and interior. The steamer France rescued 590 people, mootly old women and children, the able-bodied having taken to boats. Fires devastated parts of the island, which was covered -with cinders, and the rivers became streams of burning lava. Tho senior missionary -on Ainbrym Island is Mr. J. W. Mansfield, who is at present in Sydney on sick leave.