THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11315, 6 September 1898, Page 1

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

TOLOANICACTIVirY.

A VLVID DESCRIPTION.

Writing recently from Latnanu Island, Epi, New Hebrides, the Rev. T. Smaill gives the Sydney Morning Herald the following account of the eruption of the volcano of Lopevi : — " On the forenoon of Friday, June 3, the volcano Lopevi, which has been quiescent for the last 15 or 20 years, suddenly broke out in eruption. The weather was very thick at the time, and nothing could be seen that day except dust and general volcanic smother, of course. But plenty could be heard and felt. At intervals all through the morning a series of short booming reports' were heard in the direction of Lopevi, but the Ambrira volcano being very actiye the sounds were ascribed to it, though coming from an opposite direction. About 1 p.m. the occasional and fitful booming gave place to a .tremendous roaring, rattling din, accompanied with a continuous and sharp trembling of the ground. These were not heavy, but were sufficiently strong' to keep all the doors and windows rattling. This trembling and roaring recutred at intervals all the afternoon, but ceased before nightfall. After this great outburst the sky looked very peculiar and striking. All below was inky black and impenetrable to sight. Paama, though only about eight miles away, was blotted out ; as were also Arabrim and Lopevi itself. Above, in the sky, the clouds were touched with light, and were of a curious dun-brown colour. The natives were very restless and anxious. On Saturday morning tile weather cleared up with a violent thunderstorm and a tremendous downpour of rain. When we looked out again the clouds were gone, and there in the clear sunlight was the familiar cone of Leppvi, but with a great cloud of black smoke spuing from

its summit. The next time I saw it the volume of -smoke- was greatly lessened, and it was no longer black, but white. I observed that,' hpth. then and now, the smoke was not projected in a column upintothe sky, as is done by Lopevi's fiery-hearted brother on Ambrim,bnt was allowed to float away on the wind. The appearance of the monntain whether by day or night,. greatly resembles that of Vesuvius. The £lare at the summit is yisible at any ppint on Epi opposite the volcano, but is not visible here. This volcanic mountain is '» magnificent cone rising out of the sea and sloping gradually up to the summit at a height of nearly 5000 ft. I was told recently that fire is often seen in the crater of Lopevi but that is not so. My house at Nikaura, where wu usually stay, is right opposite this giaot peak, and has it "for its' most conspicuous object, whether from window, door, or verandah ; and for the last eight years I have watched that peak very closely for signs of fire, but never until now'have any been unmistakably present, ■ '<

" Somewhere about 1870 there was a serious outbreak, and the natives had to flee. This is not so violent, aud the natives do sot now appear to wish to leave." , "