A TERRIBLE ERUPTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1800, 27 March 1888, Page 3

A TERRIBLE ERUPTION.

GIGANTIC TIDAL WAVE

LOSS OF LIFE. [by electric tkleoraph— ccpyiuqht ] (pkr press association.) (Received Merch 27. 12 0 p.m.) CooKTOWtf. March 27. News has just been received here of a terrible eruption aud tidal wave at Few BritaiD. The German steamer Ottillie left Finchaven on 3rd March last for New Britain, and left a purty of twenty on the island to select and take up ground for coffee planting The steamer returned to the island on the 15 th, but as none of the party appeared on the shore to answer the steamer's signals, the ccptain landed and found the island a scene of great devastation, and large uprooted trees were floating about the harbor. From indications on shore it seemed as though an eruption has taken place, followed by a wave forty feet high. There were great fissures m the ground m many places, and all building material and stores for the projected operations had disappeared. Later on five Kanakas were found m a very emaciated condition. All they could be induced to say was that they had been up trees for three days, during which time they had been without food. The pearch party discovered some clothes and t#ots, bat nothing else belonging to the expedition the members of which Are supposed to have all perished. At Finchaven, on the 13th March, a wave five feet high, rolled m and did considerable damage.