Disastrous Waterspout at the Kermadecs.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 16, 19 April 1911, Page 4

Disastrous Waterspout at the Kermadecs.

The training ship Amokura returned last week from the Kermadec Islands, having performed the annual cruise round the group for the purpose of searching for castaways, and inspecting the depots placed in that locality for the benefit of shipwrecked mariners. The departure of the vessel from Auckland, which was somewhat delayed owing to the presence of scarlet fever amongst the boys, took place on 30th March, and the trip has occupied 13 days. Northeast and easterly winds prevailed during the cruise, the outward part of which was considerably protracted by inclement •weather. The vessel brought from Sunday Island Mrs. and Miss Bell, Messrs. R. and K. Bell; also Mr. J. Clarke, who had visited the islands with a view to purchase. The islands are, therefore, now uninhabited. Mrs. Bell, who, with her two sons, has been living on the island for the past six years, experienced a most trying period since last April, at which time disaster befel them, and practically the whole of their plantations, crops, and houses were demolished ■by a heavy waterspout, which occurred very suddenly, and without warning, just after dark.

The first intimation of anything unusual about to happen was a dense darkness all round the homestead, the sky being black as ink. The first discharge from the waterspout was accompanied by a few gusts of wind and several vivid flashes of lightning. The downpour increased to such proportions that it very soon flowed through the houses, carrying everything before it. The unfortunate inhabitants managed to find their way to higher ground with difficulty owing to the large amount of water under foot, and the dense blackness of the night. After a most trying time they managed to find a place of refuge, and spent a very anxious night midst the sounds of rushing flood waters and thunderous noises created by the huge land slips, caused by the fall of such a heavy volume of water. On the following morning they ventured from their places of refuge in search of any articles of comfort or sustenance which the elements might have left for their benefit, only to find that they had been rendered practically homeless and foodless.

It was found that immense quantities of earth, which had been brought down by numerous land slips, had demolished their plantations and crops entirely, and which were in many cases covered to a depth of many feet with stones and pumice, which had been spread out in every direction by the flood waters in their rush through the flat on which the houses and crops were located. Fences were found to have disappeared underground in places, and in some instances gullies were formed under fences to a depth of perhaps eight or ten feet. The only remains of the houses were a few posts indicating their former location, whilst the gravel floors were replaced with stones and pumice. The fences having become useless enabled the cattle to roam at large, and thus was completed the ruin of any higher portion of the plantations which might not have suffered beyond recognition by the flood.

The inhabitants were in sore straits indeed, as their winter stock, on which they mainly depended, had disappeared. Their best soil had been covered with pumice, and they had nothing to sow for future growing. Various excursions, both long and arduous, were made in search of food, which was very scant in the winter months. With the advent of summer, however, things assumed a brighter aspect, and a former neglected plantation was visited to procure fruit when it ripened.

On the day following that on which the disaster occurred, the inhabitants, having witnessed the fruits of their labours for the past six years demolished

Xi a few hours, decided to return to New Zealand at the Hist opportunity, which did not occur until twelve uwiilhs Uster —in fact, on the anniversary of tlie disaster, when the Amokura arrived there. The ship remained at Sunday Island for two days to enable the Bells to embark. On visiting various parts of the island it was found that the locality of the homestead had not been the only part affected, as i twas found that several slips of land had taken place, and in one case, where had formerly been a well grassed valley, there now appeared a layer of stones and pumice. Judging by the description of the parts visited by the waterspout, it would seem that it first visited the north side of the island., thence following a south-westerly course until taking its departure on the west side of the island. It was noticed that the lakes, of which there are four on the island, were found very high, three of the lakes being 12, 8 and 5 feet above normal, respectively. One crater, usually dry, had become a lake having a depth of nine feet; and did not resume its dry state for upwards of three months.

Mrs Bell, whose appearance indicated that she had undergone a trying ordeal, states that the water spout was not in any way connected with volcanic action. Earth tremors, which occur occasionally, were not evident during the period of devastation. A period of five days oi continuous light rain followed the water spout, after which the weather assumed its usual conditions.