VOLCANIC ERUPTION AND TIDAL WAVE IN NEW BRITAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1820, 20 April 1888, Page 3

VOLCANIC ERUPTION AND TIDAL WAVE IN NEW BRITAIN

LOSS OF AN EXPEDITION,

The German New Guinea steamer Otlllie left Flnechaven on the 3rd Maioh for New Britain, having hia Excellency Baron Von Schlelnltz on board, and also Mr Yon Below, coffee planter j Mr Charles Hanatein, a naturalist, wellknown In North Queensland ; 16 kanakas, and four Malays. The Governor returned to Fintohaven m the Otillie, leaving a party to select a suitable spot to plant coffee. On the 6th the Otillie went to Lloko, and on her way back to Finechaven called for the expedition at New Britain. On the 15th, as no one appeared, the captain went aehore and found that great destruction had been caueed. Many trees were uprooted and floating about In the harbor. Nothing could be learned from the kanakas beyond the fact that they had" been np the trees, and bad had nothing to eat for three dftye. It is supposed that a volcanic eruption took place, and that a tidal wave, which by the marks on »hore rose about 40ft, followed on the 13th. As all the building materials and stores had disappeared, tbe Otillie returned to Finschaven on the 16th and reported tbe matter, and left early on the 17th for New Britain with an expedition of seven gentlemen to search after the missing people. Whilst the Otillie was there tbey found a suit of clothes belonging to Mr Von Below, end also one pair of boots and one single boot belonging to Mr Hupstein'. Several sheets of galvanised iron, bent like {>aper, were aIBO discovered Tbe Otillie eft the expedition there, and they will remain until the steamer Samoa goes for them. The captain of the Otillie is of opinion that all have perished. At Finßchaven on the 13th, between 6 and 7 m the morning, a small tidal wave came m, about five feet high. The viaduct between Madany and the mainland was destroyed, and also two boats. The barque* Florence Danvera broke from her etern moorings, and the barque Norm a had a hole knocked m her stern by the mooring chain.