THE GREAT VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5649, 19 June 1886, Page 3

THE GREAT VOLCANIC ERUP TION

♦ THE REPORT OP OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. BOTOBUA, Junh 19. No stranger dropping into Rotorua today would have supposed that within the last eight days a terrible disaster had befallen the oountry, and caused the inhabitants of the township to flee for their live.. In the -right, clear air of the frosty morning yesterday, a party of seventeen, well mounted, with the colour of health in their faces, Bet out to n'sit TH_ KHW WONDHRB. They made through the Bandy sea of desolation around Botomahana, just as in the height of the season they started to feast on the glories of the terraoes ; and the township people lead the same sleepy life, and the talk of Native Land Courts and purchases is beginning to dominate as the absorbing topic of the greater portion. The last earthquake, the thickening of the smoke as it ascends the hills from the high crater, may cause a momentary deflection into the recent wellworn channel; but even such an event as that lately witnessed can be thrashed threadbare. This is the Btage upon which the topic of the Tarawera outburst ifl now entering, and men soon fall back into the natural groove suggested by the pursuits j and means of living. That seems to be the | chrome condition. There is a good deal of nose-rubbing and wild wailing, but the aspect of ! THS -BEAT KAOEI MB-TIMO HOUSI, where the refugee- and visitors are, is anything but one of mourning. The men and women are laughing together, and feasting upon potatoes, or lounging full length on tha stones, which are j heated by a never-failing service of steam ' pipes. The little boys, half of them, spend their time in the warm baths, and the other half in chasing .-their tops about the streets. One party of youths i oaUed on me to-day to be umpire in a haircutting competition against time. Anything and everything being to pass time, except the thing moat needful, ; energetic work to repair the damage, i or to erect homes for the homeless Natives. There has, it is true, been a good deal of talking about sites, opinion being divided aa to whether the B»torua Natives should give them 2000 acres for a village down by the bridge on the Wairoa road, or whether the refugees should remove to Maketu. Back to their own settlement they •ertftinly cannot get. An easy, loafing, contented life perhaps it is, but one that makes the decadenoe of the fine race of Natives of this district contrast very poorly with those of districts where they come less in contact with European oivili-Ation. THS TILLAGE LABT NIGHT looked picturesque in the bright moonlight. The wharfs built, on the slope bordering the lake were visible through the columns of steam from hundreds of cooking pot* (boiling holes). In the meeting house the great discussion continued, this time upon a proposition from the Taupo Natives that the Wairoa tribes should take up their residenoe at Tokano, on the south side of Taupo, the Natives of that district promising them, on acceptance of the offer, to provide for all their wants. Seven prominent chiefs belonging to the district opposed the proposal, however desirable to the tribes making it. The meeting-house was dimly lighted. On the floor men and women were packed as closely as they could crowd together, and when the business was over, there they laid down. TH* BU_*T_T CONDTJOT-D BT XB BOCHB, under the direction of Mr Stewart, ia nearly fiPlihed, laying only the middle and bush sections 6* the lliie td put the whole length j ready for a contract. The line is an easy one to make, and will not prove more costly ; than the average of tho Government lines. There is sure to be a great rush of tourists next year, and tho bridle track proposed is inadequate for the traffic that will be thrown upon it.* It is worth while to construct the railway to Botorua ; it is worth while to form a road to the most wonderful part of this district. An effort was made yesterday to get out the large dray which was bogged with goods on the Wairoa road, but the attempt failed. There is very little steam from Tarawera ; the volume comes from Botomahana. The visitors who went out returned before seven, having enjoyed themselves. Their reports Bhow that although rather mors active than the day before, THJ BIRIS ABB DTING DOWN. Only one of the Botomahana volcanoes was throwing Btones, columns of steam being emitted, except towards the centre of the lake, where a gigantic mud geyser was playing. About an acre or more of water was seen in the lake. ' THI E_CO_» of the great eruption is now deemed to have been practically closed, and the newspaper representatives are leaving the district.