Volcanic Eruption in the Hot Lake District.

Western Star, Issue 1055, 12 June 1886, Page 2

Volcanic Eruption in the Hot Lake District.

_ . . > DESTRUCTION OF THE WONDERLAND OF NEW ZEALANDTERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. On Thursday afternoon we issued an " Extra " intimating that there had been terrible volcanic eruptions in the hot lake country, Auckland, eariy that miorning. The noise of the eruptions was heard distinctly at Auckland, jSTapier, Grisborne, Wellington and at Blenheim in the South Island, and the ur.most alarm was manifested, residents fearing that some dreadful disaster hakd occurred either at sea'or in the interior of the North Island. The seat of part of the trouble eventually turned out to be Rotorua, where a fearful night was passed. After midnight on "Wednesday the earth was in a continual quake. At 2.10 a.m. on Thursday there was a heavy quake, then a fearful roai", which made everyone run out of then' houses. The sight that presented itself was a grand yet terrible one. Mount Tarawera, close to Rotomahana, became suddenly active, the volcano belching out fire i and lava to a great height. A dense mass of ashes came pouring down on Rotorua at 4 a.m. accompanied by a suffocating smell from the lower regions. This immense black cloud extended in a line from Taheka to Paoroa mountain —one continual rmtss of electricity all night—and at latest advices it was just the same. Between the roar of thunder, the roaring of two or three different craters, the stench, and the continual quaking of the earth, several families left their homes in their j nightdresses with whatever they could seize in the hurry, and made for Tauj ranga. Others more lucky got horses 1 and left for Oxford. i The Native Minister has received a telegram to the effect that the house of Mr Hazard, schoolmaster at Wairoa, was struck by lightning, and the whole family killed except the two eldest daughters, who were rescued by Mrs Linden. Blue mud is boiling up | everywhere. Mcßae's hotel is completely wrecked, and a tourist is missing. Several natives have lost their lives, but the exact number is not known, nor can it be ascertained readily, as most of the town is buried under 10ft of mud. Fourteen native dead bodies have been recovered in one place alone. Those who fled from Rotorua to Tauranga found their position little improved, for private telegrams from 1 that place state that the to»vu is in total darkness and covered with ashes. Ruawnia had burst into activity, resulting in a constant succession of ! earthquakes, and immense volumes of smoke and steam came from the locality of the White Terrace. These were accompanied by showers of dust and grist, and the sight is described as an awfully grand one, resembling Martin's picture of the Last Day. No serious damage is done at Tauranga, however, but naturally everybody was anxious to leave the town. Their only escape would be by sea, for the whole country from Lake Taupo to Tauranga was covered with thick smoke and it was as dark as midnight. Maoris and Europeans rushed about in great excitement, and Hashes of fire were plainly visible in Auckland and suburbs, proving the gigantic nature of the eruptions. The town of Grisborne was in utter darkness, and sharp shocks of earthquakes were felt. The eruptions are confined to the country about Wairoa and Lake Tarawera, about sixty miles i in extent. Lake Rotomohana is re- ' ported to have disappeared and the ' famous white terraces are said to be a thing of the past. It iM supposed that some 20 or 30 lives have been lost at Wairoa. * LATER PARTICULARS. [I!Y TELEGRAPH.] Auckland, Friday. The excitement has abated over the eruption. All Tauranga has subsided, and the town is covered with dust from the cloud-eiiysloped district

From Rotorua news comes that although the excitement has abated somewhat, not many eyes were closed in Taurauga last night. There were two or three heavy shocks early in the evening and more are feared. lam now enabled to forward you further particulars of the disaster. Numbers of women and children, some nude, their homes after the first shock and took refuge in the schoolhouse at Teawhaou, while others continued their flight towards Oxford and Taiivanga. Robertson and Marehereau started in a coach for "Wairoa, eleven miles distant, and on the way met several fugitives, who informed them of the sad fatality to the Hazard family, and also gave a horrifying description of the scene of desolation at Wairoa. Owing to obstructions on the road Robertson was unable to reach Wairoa in the coach; subsequently, accompanied by H. D. Dunhan, Johnston (Government agent), and the Rotorua railway surveyor, he started in a buggv for the scene of desolation, leaving the. buggy at Teketapu bush. They made the rest of the journey on f >ot, Tiey found the whole country covered with blue volcanic clay, which impeded locomotion. All vegetation was completely destroyed. The whole country side seemed to have been visited by a snowstorm, so thickly was volcanic de ris strewn. The outlet of Rototakihi like was found to be blocked up and the bridge covered with clay mud. The Blue lake was an expanse of muddy water. At the village of Wairoitho party found the hotel completely ruined, only the outer wall standing. The Temperance Hall, erected for natives by the late Mr Snow, was level with the ground. Hazard's house wax completely wrecked, Constable Ma loney, who had started from Rotorua on horseback before Mr Robertson and Iris party with Black, the government surveyor, were digging for the bodies of Mr Hazard and the missing children. Mrs Hazard had been dug out alive and comparatively uninjured. She had a most miraculous escape. Falling beams of the roof lodged on a cheffioneer and allowed just sufficient room to save her from being crushed to death. Two of her children were found dead beside her, her arm being around one of them She complains of great stiffness and pain in the right leg, which was doubtless caused by the pressure, but otherwise she appears pretty well. When, however, she subseoue.ntlv realised the full extent of calamity that had come over her unfortunate family, she became very much distracted. A stretcher was improvised and the poor woman was carried on the shoulders of the party to Teldtipu bush, and thence by the buggy to Rotorua which they reached at six p.m. Miss Hazard, who is about 18 years of age, was rescued from the buried house by Mr Lumsden ; another younger sister, aged 15, owes her safety to the exertions of a native woman. The young lady was completely covered with mud and debris, and the Maori secured breathing space for her by clearing away the mud with her hands and afterwards liberator her. Mctfae, of the Wairoa Hotel, gave great assist mee in rescuing the Hazard family. The party found it impossible to visit Teariki and Mor<w se'tlements, which are so close to Tarawera mountain that it is fearer! all the natives must have perished. The bodies of some natives are stil lying in the whares here. Twelve are known to have been killed. The farmers are ruined at Maketu. G-reat sympathy is expressed in Auckland for the sufferers and a relief fund is being opened. The latest intelligence received is that although the whit'" terraces are gone, the pink terraces, about half a mile distant, are sav ,j d. Wellington, Friday. The following information has been received from the North : —News just io hand state that there is no hope fo> the Tapahero, Teariki and Moura Native settlements. Seventv are known to be at the two latter places. I expect the deaths of Natives will exceed 100. I fear that Mr R. Burt, who is supposed to have camped near the foot of Mouut Tarawera that night on his way to Oalatea, has perished. His two horses have found their wav home. The craters on Ruawakihi and its twin cone are emitting volumes of dense smoke. Rotomahana Lake is a seething roaring masa of water, the clouds of steam from which are several thousand feet high. Numbers of willing hands are digging for bodies at Wairoa to-day. An attempt, however, will be made to examine the Native settlements I have mentioned. Mr Mcßae informs me he extinguished at least ten balls of fire which came crashing through his roof during the the night, igniting everything they came in contact with. Te Hourangi tribe are quite destitute of clothing, food and whares. Will telegraph again this evening.—• Telegraphist, Roto rua.

A telegram from Te Puke, 25 miles from "Rotorua, says the country is desolate. The feed is all covered up and cattle are starving. Government have been asked to send pressed hay to Tauranga. Te Puke is one of Yesey Stewart's official settlements. Christciiurch, Friday. The Mayor of Christchurch has sent the following telegram to the Mayor of Tauranga: " Citizens of Christchurch express deepest sympathy with inhabitants of your district in the terrible disaster which has befallen them. Should extraneous aid for sufferers be required, kindly lot me know and I will do my best to help."