ERUPTION OF TARAWERA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1262, 12 June 1886, Page 2

ERUPTION OF TARAWERA

The ipterruj ('on • f wir-a T o )ru<» ia moreser; wasat first tl ou> it., and th ■ break is t ot likely to be re t>;red till to-night. The m»D on iho sp >v report that the wires are clogged in places with mad to the hickness of cat.o'ea • r Ilec'or i» of '■r?«"*on tho erom on may mil.ninate «t Mayer Island, mtsxde Tauranga. Fur her telegrams from the scene of eruption state that a heartrending scene occurred at Native ss ttlements where the loss of children was very great. Nr confirmation has been received of tbs safety of the terraces. On? telegram says simply they hare not been o-stroyed, bn' the general belief here am ng people who know the place is that it is almost impossible they can have escaped without Injury. The telegrams received from the scene of the eruption are : Te Aroha, June 10 5 p.tn.

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions at Tarawera have not affected th. Te Aroha hot springs

Rotorua, Jme T\ 8 p.m

Mr G. Cook, Assessor of the Native Lands Coart, has just arrived from Taheke. He reports all well Only a few inches of deposit reached there. We have just had another very sharp shock of earthquake.

June 11,10 45 p.m. Beautiful morning and everything all right here. Families are returning te their hotn-s The volcano is still throw-

ing out a dense volume of smoke and steam. Roaring cm be heard occasionally. Edwards got a glimpse through a glass, and states the mountain appears to be about 300 feet higher He coaid see two distinct craters, from which flimeaL/ were issuing. The Native sent on^^

reports the terraces are uninjured, but that ttotomahaoa lake has subsided, and Is now a body of mingled fire and water. He also spates that the hill at the back of the Pink Terraces is showing signs of activity. He considers there is no hope th»t any could have survived at I e Ariki and Morns settlements, bat he could not venture to ere yet to ascertain definitely. It is supposed that there were about 40 Natives at Te Ariki and 30 at Morea. Eight were killed at Tarawera. The Euro pans killed are Haztrd, two children, and a young nephew. The tourist is still missing, and no hopes are entertained of finding him alive. His name was E A Bambridge, of Newoaatle-on-Tyne, England. He was a friend of I Messrs McArthur, Auckland. Working ! parties have now gone oat. The Tahao- | rau a trine are left utterly destitute, and j many of them have not sufficient clothes. I Ropata behave ! like a true chief. His I weatherboard house was destroyed by a I fire ball, but he remained with his people 1 a>id saw them all away before leaving ; himself

Christchurch Sympathy Chbistchuhoh, June 11.

This afternoon the Mayor of Christchurch sent the fo lowing telegram to the Mayor of Tauranga:—“The citizens of hristchuroh express the deepest sympathy with the inhabitants of your district in terrible disaster which has befallen them. Should extraneous aid tor sufferers bo required kindly let me know, and I will do my best to help —A Avers, Mayor.” Professor Hutton telegraohed to the Government offering to go to the dis' urbed district to make scientific observations and report on the occurrence. Government, however, have declined the offer.

Reported Loss of Forty Europeans.

Weluxgton, June 11

The news of the vole it io outbreak and consequent loss of life has created a great sensation hero. It is reported that foi ty Europeans have lost their lives, and it is feared that the inhabitants of two or three Native villages have wholly perished. The latest news states that the celebrated pink and white terraces have escaped destruction.

Messages of Sympathy. In tho House this afternoon, the Premier said the Governor had received a telegram from Lord Carrington, Governor of .New Sonth Wales, expressing sympathy with the colony for the recent volcanic disturbances at Rotorua. He had also received a telegram from the Premier of New South Wa-ea to the same effect. The Government bad reason to believe that a large number of Natives had lost their lives owing o the eruption, but it was believed both terraces were safe.

Farther Paticalars. Wellington, Jaae II (afternoon.) Dr Hector is of opinion chat the eruption may culminate at Mayer Island, outside Tanranga Further telegrams from the scene of the eruption state that heart-rending scenes occurred at Native settlements, where the loss of children were very great. No confirmation has been received of the safety of the teraces. One telegram says simply they have not been destroyed, but the general belief here among the people who know the place is that it is almost impossible they can have escaped wlthot injury.

Wellington, 7.20 p m. The following information ha i been received from the telegraphist at Rotorua:— News is just to hand that there is no hope for Tapnaoharnru, Te Ariki, and Mourea Native settlements Seventy are known to have been at the two latter places. I expect the deaths of the' Natives will exceed ICO. . I fear that Mr H B, Burt, who is posed to have camped near the foot of Monnt Tarawera that night on his way to Galatea has perished. His two horses have found their way home. The craters or Ruawahia, and its twin cone are emitting volumes of dense smoke, and Rotomahana Lake is a seething roaring mass of water, the clouds of ste>nn from which are several thousand feet high. A number of willing bauds are digging for bodies at Wairoa to-day, and an attempt will be made to examine the Native settlements I have mentioned. Mr Mcßae informs me that be extinguished at least ten balls of fire, which came crashing through his roof during the night, igniting everything they came in contact with.

The Tuhoorangi tribe are quite destitute of clothing, food and whares. Wellington, Jum 11, S p.m. A telegram from Tepuko, twenty-five miles from Rotorua, says the country is desolate- the teed is all covered up, and cattle are starving. Government have been asked to send pressed bay to Tauranga. Tepuke Is one of Mr Veeey Stswart’s special settlements.

Narrative of a Resident. Auckland, June 11, Midnight. The following special message has come > to tho * ‘ Herald ” from lloturua late on Thursday. We have passed through a moat terrible time. The Buawahia cone of Tara were Mountain, what many parsons classed aa an extinct volcano, suddenly bant into activity between one and two o’clock this morning. Seen from this place the B|sctaole wss fearful, and it reminded ona of Bulwer Lytton’s description of the picture of “The Lc.t Day.”. From the time named until about five o’clock there wes a constant succession of earthquakes, _ but after that they eased off considerably. Immense volumes of fhme were projected to a great height, and dense clouds of smok<, steam, mud, and ashes covered the * sky amid thunder and H ;htnirg. Almost constant flashes of lightning played through the smoke in all directions, and fine effect of the coruscation was simply odeicrlbsble. Ehorily .bofv.e six o’clock d

showtrs ot asots CO ctctl here, but foi tunately for this place, the wind shifts round to S. W., and blew for a time will almost hurricane force, completely tnrnlui tho dense clouds before much damage tva done. When the grit began falling manj persona who had passed the night in feat and trembling thought they were to be overwhelmed, and then began a stampede. Half dressed womm and children were to be seen flying for their ! ives along the Tauranga road to seek shelter In the Native schoolhouses. There a roe did not think themse ! ves even then sife, but continued their fl ; ght towards Oxford and Tauranga. The lake rose considerably and a gtoa r many springs burst up, which added to their tear cf being engulfed. Shortly after daylight Mr Eawin Robert •on started out towards Wairoa to endeavour to ascertain the position <1 matters there, and was shortly afterwards followed by Mr Marcheason. Wnen near Tikltspu Bush they met a number of fugitive*, who gave a harrowing description. The two eldest Misses Hazard were brought In. It was then thought they were the only survivors of the late respected teacher’s family. Mrs Humphries and the servants from Mcßae’s Hotel were also brought in. The> reported that ail the buildings at Wairoa have been demolished, and in addition the Native achoolhouseand residence had been ignited by one of the bal s of fire which had hi eo flying about In all direc ions. Sever-1 families wished the coac’ ea to go away to Tanranga, but Mr Robertson thought that duty called him to go back on the Wairoa road, and if possible reach the scene of the disaster, so a* to render any assistance In his power. Accordingly be refused all offers to go in the opposite direction, and iu responce to his call for volunteer?, Mr Johnston, Government agent, and Mr Roche, railway surveyor, wAMnediately signified their willingness to and the trap started straight away as stated above. This evening we have had two or three heavy shocks, and we csnnot tell what more is in store The Government agent has received instructions from Wellington to do ail that is necessary to relieve cases of distress. artres wt 1 start in the

morning, under Mr Blyfha to clear the road for vehicles and resume the search for bodies \ tourist, wh" was stopping at Mr Mc'ae’s, ni<med Bainbridge, ia supposed to have been knocked down and cover dop by falling mud. Mr Blyth and others describe the scene as being most appalling, while the side of the mountain was a sheet of flime, but he says until the r>of fell they did not fully realise their awful peril I hear that Te Ngae farm is ruined for some month? to come. Ve y little damage has bet-n done at Tahete, abbrough I bear tha* some of the dust was carried as far as Tauranga, I trust the word is over As soon as possible efforts will be made to ascertain what effte s the eruption has had upon the "ernces. Two shocks were experienced in Maketu within iute-vals of ihiee hours last night It is feared a chaster has taken place at an . A telegraph lineman has gone to open up communication if possible With Opo’iki. The district round Maketu is enveloped in ashes, and there ia no feed for cat tie It is reported that the pink terrscrs are safe, but the white terrace is said to be g--ne.

Safety of a Christchurch Tourist.

Five tourists returned to day to Auckland from K term Amongst them is Mr Holland, merchant of Christchurch.

Fresh outbre ik at Tikitere. Wellington, Juue 11, midnight

A telegram was received by the Government this evening respecting the volcanic disturbance. It is stated that the whole of Tikitere has buret out into fire Tikltere is sitnited about nine miles northeast of Ko otua, and four or five miles from Te iSgse It t» opposite Ohinemutn ou the other side of the lake. The locality always has bounded in huge mud holes and boiling springs. Nothing further has been received so far.

One Hundred Persons Missing. Rotouua, Juno 12. Tekipia and the Hapa who Uvad at To Wairoa are safe. There were ooly nine persons killcdtln re and six Europeans but it is supposed the greater part of the Tuhauraugi and Ngatirangutthi Hapu* are all lost The number of persons missing is one hundred. The bodies of Hazard and children hare be- n dug np corered by four feet of mud They are very much crashed. Some natives were dug np and a fellow who had been scatchiog hard for the last forty-eight hoars popped his head through mad this afternoon none the worse, Bart is safe Hainbridge has not been found. The other settlement is unapproachable. Tikitera oppoaite Ohinemutu on the other aide of laba Ro oraa has broken into violent eruption. It a mudhole not approachable for violent intermittent spouting and foul smells.