VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN TONGA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3748, 6 October 1886, Page 3

VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN TONGA.

MANY LIVES LOST. (By Telegraph.) Auckland, Oct. 5. The Arawata arrived at Kussell this morning from Fiji. She reports that the Island of Niua-f v, m tho Tonga group, has burst out as an active volcano. 'J'wo-thirds ot the island disappeared, and the remaining portion i 3 covered with volcanic dust. Many lives are reported to have been loat. The Suva wns chartered by tho Tongan Government to visit the scene of tho eruption. (Per s.B. Arawata at Auckland.) Tabika, Sept. 30. The French war vessel Decres, which came into Levuka on Sunday, reports that while on her way from Samoa to Tonga, they passed close to tho island of Ninafiau, which was m a terrific state of eruption. They did not try to land to see if any of the inhabitants remained alive. On reaching Tonga they reported the mutter to the Tongan Government, which at once chartered tho 9.3. Suva to proceed to tho scene of the disaster. On arriving there Captain Dobb found about three parts of the island gone, and a lake m the centre of a mountain 200 ft high, which had been thrown up. Tho eruption commenced with a very heavy thunder-storm, •which frightened tho native?, and mudo them all run to one end of the island. All their villages were destroyed, as would also have been tho inhabitants had they remained m their own villages. No lives were lost. Tho island i 3 covered with volcanic sand and dust •imilar to Tarawera, to a depth of from two to twenty feet. The Suva connects with the Arawata the next trip to take visitors to the scene of the eruption. The Premier had been there a few weeks ago, when severe earthquakes wero experienced.