THE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1523, 24 June 1886, Page 3

THE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS.

Wellington, June 21. A party consisting of Captain Way, Mrs Way, James Foley, John Clark, Fisher, and Warbrick left Rotorua on Sunday morning at 9 o’clock for Wairoa, which they reached at 2 p. m. The remark was made generally that the expedition was a foolhardy one, and that it was simply insanity for a lady to brave such perils, which were terrible enough for men. A north-easterly gale with rain caught them, and nothing could be done to recover the effects from Way’s residence. All rested that night at Sophia’s whare, the thunder of the falling of avalanches of mud effectually preventing sleep. In the morning they loaded up their three pack horses with the most valuable effects, and moved from Wairoa, but afthe first Wairoa bridge the horses got buried up, and, after tremendous exertions, the men unloaded the pack horses, and got the whole nine horses out, and returned to Wairoa between 9 and 10 o’clock. Mrs Way was left at Wairoa in charge of Foley, and the remaining men of the party started at 1 o’clock on foot for Rotokakahi bridge. They reached it, but found the canoes swamped at (he inlet to Wairoa river, a strong southerly gale blowing, in which a canoe could not have lived. Rotokakahi track along (he lake was found in a frightful state, with a landslip threatening to project the party bodily over the slope into the lake. Arthur Warbrick, being a splendid athlete, determined to try and break through to Rotorua to procure assistance for the party hemmed in. His comrades begged him to return with them to Wairoa, as he would only sacrifice his life. He refused and earn® on, the rest going back. Several times in the track he had a landslip, in front and behind him, and expected to be shot bodily into the lake, but he escaped. The tremendous exertions ho had to make to get through the track to Kaitereirea exhausted him, but he pushed through to Rotorua, arriving after dark, dead beat. He states the nioe horses bad the last feed this morning, and that they must perish from starvation, as they can never be got out. The party had used the whole of their five bottles of wtter yesterday, believing they could get out to-day. Mr Johnston, the Government agent, at once authorised Black to procure three horses anc to arrange for the despatch of the brothers Arthur and Alfred Warbrick at daybreak to-morrow morning for Kaiteireiria, giving them also orders to the chief of the settlement of Hohepa Tunhuroa to furnish canoes to proceed to Rotokakahi bridge, when Warbrick Bros, make for Wairoa. June 22. The party were all rescued on Tuesday, and neither a European or a native remained at Wairoa. Mair received a telegram from Wellington that Government declines to recognise th 1 ’ claim for compensation for loss of goods, H® basis his claim on the fact, and on the strength of Dr Hector’s opinion, that the Wairoa roads are dangerous, The Government agent had turned back on the road a gang of men proceeding to recover (he property. The natives have cleared out from Paeroa, and have gone to settle* ments on the Wangatika, being afraid to remain at Paeroa, in the line of volcanic system. The Rotorua natives at Whakakewerewa have also cleared out for Pakarnngi settlement, above Paanga