ERUPTION OF TARAWERA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1265, 16 June 1886, Page 2

ERUPTION OF TARAWERA

Alarming Symptoms. Auckland, Jjii* 15 a special from Taupo, received at f>.u o'clo k yesterday, states that loud expms ons had been heard in the direction o' Tougariro, followed by a muffled rumbln uoiae. The waters of Lake Taupo wer greatly agitated, and rose considerably, rushing up the reaches In tremendous su ami pouring through the outlet at tti had Waika“o,rive *,with i eafening roar. Tongatiro was hidden by clouds yesterday, but showed signs of unusual activity, emitting large and intermittent volumes of ateam. Karakaratiti and Ngawhao 01 theahore adjacent, art unusually active. There are greater volumes of steam on die shores ot T ,upo lake now than know at any time preceding tho eruption Tongarlro is roaring awfully, and at intervals loud thundering reports, like cannonading, frightened the shepherds at the foot of the mountain, who waited terrorstrikeu for daylight, and escaped too Takano,

Great loss of Stock. Gi-nouM’, June 15. Nows from the hast CoiSt states tba tho district beyond Tolago Bay are mor or loss affected by the eruption, Waiapu, Rotokutnkua, Waiomatatlna, Waipant and other places are covered with sand n depths varying from throe quarters of an inch to 8 inches, fn many of tho districts cattle and sheep are dying for the want of feed, not a vestige of which is to be found A number birds are also lying ab -ut dead. Mobs of sheep, cattle, and horses are wandering about in a bewildered condition, The settlers ora feeding then stock on what hard food they have got but this must shortly run out. On Colonel Whitmore’s run the sheep are wandering about for food. Stretches of country are completely devastated. The damage done must bo serious.

landslips feared. Government have received the following:—“Rntorna, June 15. Everything was quiet during the night. Nothmg to be seen this morning, as there Is a thick >og. A little rain foil during tho night. It is believed that rain would cause th mud to slip from the side of the mountain, and Oil up some of the lakes and block up the road to a gieat depth, thereby proving a greater source of danger to the people than an eruption of the volcano. It is quite a decided fact that tho terraces exist no longer, —R. O. Daxsev.’ “Taupo, Juno 15. A rather severe shoot of earthquake, succeedo 1 by a loud report, was felt at 330 this morning, coming from Tongariro. It was raining at the time. Tongariro continues invisible.

Narrow? Escapes. A Maori woman rescued from Wahangi has told a Wairoa native that she and her husband were in a large house at Waitangi Tho house fell in and her husbacd was killed. In the morning she tried to get to Karara, and was struck badiy by falling mud but staggered on in a ds.ted state in the direction of Wairoa till found by Natives. She has no recollection where she is, aud is in » very weak state, and fears are entertained that she will not survive. The natives wilt try and got her to Rotorua hospital by way of Kaitorira. The Maori Tohunga, old Tuhotu, is getting on well at the hospital and can now sit up and talk; the rog he had when entombed kept him warm and as he lay there was no waste of tissue,

which accounts for his being found after his long captivity in such good condition, Mr Falrbrother had a conversation! with him at the hospital to-day. Ho said he prayed earnestly and continuously to be delivered. Mr Fairbrother asked him if he prayed to tho Atua of the Maoris. He said no, to the Atua (Dud) of the

pakohaa. The uativoa at the hospital will have nothing to do with him, being frightened of him as a wizard. Mr Fairbrother changed his olotbea for him to make him comfortable, the natives refusing any assistance. The Scene of the Eruption.

At dusk to-night could bo seen from the top of the Pukeroa reserve what appeared to be white clouds from the hot springs or geysers at tho S.E. end of Maroa. It continued for some time, and as it is in the line of volcanic action, which Mali* says is nine miles long, with over a dozen volcanoes, it is probable the

thermal springs at Pareroa become more active. About sis o’clock, two flashes in the sky iu that direction were seen, like lightning., On thoWaikato side appeared a lunWfr rainbow, and at the same period an earth tremor, or slight earthquake took place at Government baths, Rotorua. An attendant ran outside the building in alarm, bat nothing

further occurred. Lake Rotorua ati’l fluctuates. Since dusk the Tarawora volcanoes have been tolerably quiet, but Rotumahana ban been more active than 1 have seen it since arrival hero belching piles of white steam clouds thous»nds of feet in the air, making with the sheets of tho moonlight playing upon tha aerial crags and ravines a magnificent and in spiring sight. A party ef six who left for Rotomahaua by tho Galatea road have just returned. Thj)y advanced to the

1 hill at the baok of the pink terraces that being tha most accessible t{de. Smoke is blowing up the valley at a quarter of a mile from the crater at the back of tho terra us. Four of the party declined to go further, but the son of Captain Steel, Hamilton, and Bloomfield pushed on to the very e-Jjc ->i the crater and peered, and the volcanoes iu o; option ut Kotomahana was unspeakably grand ihey I watched one of the mad volcsn.-es, and!

counted four neconds till iho ->.ud fell. Bloimitield Slatted to sketch, when -'teel called turn back, and they bad only ret rod thirty yards whan the place where they hud been slipped into the cater, the whoUi slope appearing to have a sliding which was succeeded with tremors. i/.etuniiig they m-1 Hector and pa ty. The photographer with them oad been successful in getting views of the whole cf tie scene of volcmic orop l *o. Returning. a shower of rain tell, preventing them getting home till l»te. Malr leaves for tVedin-. ton to morrow >r Mectoi’s movements are uncertain. Inspector Kieiy has gone bao* to the ■Vf-ikato, but Inspector Goodail remains to await developments As Wairoa is hopelessly gone nothing more can be done, so the visitors from VVaiaato and Auckland are leaving. Percy Smith, Assistant Surveyor Goneral, who has been up at the erraoes with Blythe, District Surveyor, b expected at Rotorua to-morrow.

Getting Warm. Welunoxow, Juno IG, Sir Julius Vogel received the following telegram from Rotorua this morning : Four severe shocks of earthquake were felt between 12 and 12. SO last night, and sev ral smaller ones druing the night, producing « getieial feeling of uneasiness. Several people left their house in blauka s vandering about not knowing where to go. Geyser and volcanoes same as yesterday, prings are very active here and their t isuperaiuce has much iacr-asod.