ERUPTION OF TARAWERA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1271, 23 June 1886, Page 2

ERUPTION OF TARAWERA

Roxobda June 22. Mr Robertson, with a number of packhorses, cams In this morning with a quantity of Mcßae’s and Humphrey’s poods got at Ksiteriria. Mcßae has received a private telegram fronv Wellington that the Government decline to recognise hla claim for compensation for loss of goods at Wairoa. Mcßae bases his claim on the fact that on the strength of Dr Hectof'e opinion that the Wairoa road was dangerous the Government Agent had turned back on the road a gang of men proceeding to recover hia property.

I am informed that the Natives hare cleared oat from Paeroa, being afraid to remain there, in the line of the volcanic ■yetem. The Rotorua Natives of Whakarewarewa have also cleared ont for the Fakarsngl settlement. A party of settlers from Galatea report that on the Galatea plains the volcanic showers of mud have in some cases taken a most eccentric course, over-leaping a block of lancT on one line, and then striking another track further on in the same line. A number of stone? have also been fonnd, smooth, round, pebbly, and quite distinct in their character from the deposit of stones in the other districts

The relief expedition for Wairoa to bring oat Captain May's party, detailed arrangements of nhich had been entrusted by the Government agent, Johnston, to A. C. Black, started this morning It consisted c.f Alfred sad Arthur Warbriok Constable Cavanagh, and subst qaently by a brother of Foley’s, one of the members of Way’s party. Cavaaagh took his revolver to shoot the bs’eagu od horses if it was impossible to get them out The party reached Kaitariria at tsn o’clock this forenoon and found that Humphries with some of of his native s had cut tboir way oat last evening by a track over the hills at the back of Mcßae’s to Katerina and got a canoe sent down to Rotokakhi bridge with the natives early ibis raorni. g. These natives got thr u.'h to Wairoa and communicated with Captain Way, who at once abandoned h s goods, which were at first ab the Wairoi bridge, where the horses had been buried, and came on with his wife in a ci - o t > Kaiteriria. Captain and Mrs Way had just arrived at Kaiteriria as the reheving party rode in. Warbriok brothers, and f’avanagh took a canoe and aga ; n went down the lake to Rotokakahi br.dge. it wn their intention to push on to SVai oa The remainder of Way’s patty on a-rival there, fonnd the rest of the party bad jast left by the Kaikawhiriwhiri track Way's party were desirous of getting to Rotorua owing to the state of the horses, and after two or three hours’ rest they started again,.reaching Rotorua lake in the evening, alt the party pretty well knocked up. Captain Way had his clothes near’y torn off his back, and was bare footed ; Mrs Way had borne tier hardship with wonderful fortitude and endurance, although she suffered considerably, Fisher was pretty well used up. Tney had staved off thirst and made up for lack of water by broaching the ginger wine at Mcßae’s. Daring last night they had little sleep between quakes and the noise of avalanches of mad being precipitated 95 feet over the Wairoa falls. Rotokakahio lake has not yet obtained its old level, consequently there ii no overflow into the Wairoa river bed, which is still choked with sand. Captain Way is quite satisfied with his experiences at Wairoa and has no intention of making another expedition. To night every living soul, native and European, is ou; of Wairoa. R, Calmon left here for Tanpo to visit Tongariro and ascertain about the recent eruption there. Men coming from Tanpo state he will not get to the mountain as the adjacent coantry is covered with enow. The volcanoes are all quiet and the steam clouds can scarcely be seen in the line of the horizon.