WATERSPOUT AT KERMADECS

Grey River Argus, 25 April 1911, Page 7

WATERSPOUT AT KERMADECS

SETTLERS' SEVERE LOSSES

' xiic u'ainuag snip Amoicura return ea lo AucKland on Tuesday night norn me . xs.ermadec islands anu urought news of a disastrous waterspout which occurred at Raoul or bunday Island, and practically destroyed the whole of the plantations and buildings owned By the Bell family. This occurred about a year ago, but in the meantime no vessel had caiied unti lthe Amofcura arrived, and she has 'brought back Mrs and Miss .Bell", Messrs R. and K. Bell, and Mr J". Clark, so that no residents are now Jeft on the Kermadecs. The first notice of anything unusual was a dense darkness all round "the homestead. The first discharge from the waterspout was accompanied by gusts of wind and flashes of lightning. The downpour increased to such proportions that it very soon flowed through the houses, carrying everything- before it. The unfortunate inhabitants managed "to find their way to Righer ground with difficulty. They managed to find a place of re« tuge, and spent a very anxious night amidst the sounds of rushing flood waters and thunderous noises created by the huge landships. On the following- morning they ventured from their places of refuge, only to find that they had "been rendered practically homeless and foodless. Immense quantities, of earth, brought down by numerous 1 landslips had demolished the plantations and crops, which were in some cases covered to a depth of many feet with stones and pumice, which had been spread out in every direction by the flood waters in their rush through the flat on which the houses and crops were located. Fences disappeared underground in places, and gullies were formed under fences to a depth of perhaps eight or ten feet. The only remains of the houses were , a few posts indicating their former location. The fences having become useless 'enaHed the cattle to roam at large,' and tKus was completed the ruin of any higKer portion of. the plantations which might not have suf fered beyond recognition by the fiooa. The inhabitants were in sore straits indeed, as their winter stock, on which they mainly depended, had disappeared. Their best soil had been covered with pumice, and they had notMrig to sow for future growing. Various excursions, both long and arduous, were made in seach of food, which was very scant in the winter ? months. With the advent of summer, hoyuever, things assumed a brighter aspect, and a former neglected plantation was visited to procure fruit when it Tipened. it was noticed that the lakes, of which' there are four on the island, were found very high', three of the lakes being 12ft, Bft, and sft above normal, respectively. One crater, usually dry,, had become a lake having a depth of nine feet; and did not resume its dry state for upwards of three months.