THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Western Star, Issue 1056, 16 June 1886, Page 2

THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION

1 A slight shock of earthauake was j felt at 11.5 on Sunday morning, and shortly afterwards volumes of steam | were seen rising from a new crater. The natives think the eruption is at Owaki, southward of thePaeroa range. The disturbance appears to be spreading towards Taupo. The bodies of the Hazard family and Mr Bainbridge were interred on Tuesday afternoon. ; Mr William Berry wires that the j terraces are gone. The whole base occupied by them and by flotomahana is now a series of great volcanoes, and a grand and terrible spectacle. Huge boulders and showers of ashes are being thrown up by them. Tarawern, as far as he could see it, was free from volcanic disturbance. He could not see the white terrace for smoke and steam, but it cannot exist. The pink terrace looks as if it had fallen in. All the natives about Rotomahana must have perished. A number of people just in from Te Puke and the coast report that the whole district presents a desolate appearance. All feed is completely ruined until next spring. The road between here and Te Puke is strewn with dead sheep and horses. Most of the former perished by being poisoned with tufu. The latter were swamped. Dr Hector is of opinion that the dust will ultimately prove beneficial. The dust is heavy, and is just what the light soil of Tauranga requires. It is reported that White Island ! shows unusual signs of activity. Mr Gray, Secretary of Telegraphs, has received a telegram from Tauranga to the effect thatou Sunday a noise as of an eruption was heard in the direction of Tongariro, and next mo ruing'the mountain was covered with thick mist, so that it was impossible to see whether there was any signs of activity. The settlers in the neighborhood were alarmed at the noise the mountain is making, and remained up all night. The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands received the following on Monday:—“The Rotorua springs have increased in temperature and yomme. There are several newspriugsat Obinemutu and Mokia. We are crowded with visitors. Tarawera is quiescent. A. Hinders.” The Northern s.s. Company are laying on all available steamers to bring up cattle from the Bay ol Plenty districts affected by the eruptions to Auckland. The story of the two Misses Hazard was deeply affecting. Mr Hazard, schoolmaster, formerly of Bombay, lived at Wairoa with his family. Yesterday they celebrated Mr Hazard’s birthday, and had not long retired when the final act of the birthday drama began to be played, and its denouement exhibits a touching instance of the calm resignation with which a truly Christian family can yield up their lives to the Creator, Miss Hazard and her sister ran into their parents’ room when the first dreadful shock was felt,"but the father said quietly “ You need not be frightened.” But Miss Hazard thought she had better dressgberself and her sisters. The rapidity and force of the shocks caused the whole household to rise, and everyone felt that they were on the verge of a terrible calamity. The noise on every side was deafening, but amid the raging tumult of the thunder and the roaring fire and the falling showers of ashes a hymn was reverently sung, Miss Hazard playing on the harmonium. Just as the sweet cadence of the tune ceased an. enormous shower of ashes and stones smashed in the roof of the dwelling. Mr Stubbius, a surveyor, seeing Miss Hazard sitting at the harmonium, helped her to escape through a window and a Maori woman saved the other sister. The rest of the family were buried alive —. father, mother, two

litt'e daughters, an I a ni j ce, said to be Miss Baguall, of the Thames. Mr Hazard endeavoured to improve the moral condition of the Natives, and was much respected. Further telegrams from the scene state that heartrending scenes occurred at Native settlements, where the loss of children was very great. A pitiable scene was witnessed by one of the English tourists. He stood on an eminence at an early stage of the eruption, and gazed placidly on the terrific volcano, because, in his ignorance, he thought it was one of tho wonders he had come to Eotorua to behold; when, all of a sudden, as he watched a Maori woman hastening along the road, the earth opened, and with a shriek the poor woman threw up her arms and went out of sight. A shower of hot ashes caused the tourist to gird up his loins and flee from the spot, feeling that he already had quite enough value for his money. One of the English tourists has related his experiences. He says; “We went on Sunday to Wairoa, and on Tuesday we weut to see the terraces. We arc probably the last visitors who will ever see them. On Wednesday it rained, and at 10 p. m. the earthquakes began rocking- the house in which we stayed ( Brent’s Hotel). The shocks became more frequent and weut upwards towards the sky with a tremendous roaring sound, which prevented us hearing a word spoken. Then a dense mass of smoke belched forthgradually spreading over heavens, which were presently enshrouded in as glooming a darkness as they were previously surrounded by dazzling light; the transformation being very paint'».l and terrifying to most of us. The earthquakes continued intermittent until four o’clock, when ashes came up and a great thunderstorm broke over the place. This still further intensified the alarm. * The ashes were found to be three feet at a distance of seven miles from the township. I was not a bit frightened myself, but gazed calmly on this magnificent sight of the wonderland of New Zealand. At four o’clock,getting tired of looking at them, I laydown and went to sleep.” This was, indeed, a brave tourist if he does not exaggerate.

G-rsßoiure, Tuesday. News from the East Coast states that the districts beyond Tolgoa Bay are more or less affected by the eruption. Waipu, Potokarttakau, Waiomatahua, Waiparo, and other places are covered with sand to depths varying from tof an inch to 8 inches. In these districts many cattle and sheep are dying for want of feed,(not a vestige of which is to be found. A number of birds are also lying about dead. Mobs of. sheep, cattle and horses are wandering about in a bewildered condition. The settlers are feeding stock on what hard feed they have got, but this must shortly run out. On Colonel Whitmore’s run sheep are wandering about for food. Stretches of country are completely devastated. The damage done must be serious.