BLOW-OUT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1932, Page 2

BLOW-OUT

ROTORUA SENSATION. ERUPTION ON THE LAKE BED. COLUMN RISES 200 FEET. ROTORUA, January 21. Tlie most sensational Inow-out since the Vvaiinangu eruption took place on t.ie lake lied at Rotorua about 7.45 011 Monday evening. In the clear evening light a huge column of steam, water, mud and debris was thrown into the air between 200 and 300 feet. At first the phenomenon was mistaken for a cloud, as little sound accompanied the eruption, but. investigation showed that the bed of tlie lake wa's blown up at a point about 100 yards from tlie mouth of the Purjrenga stream. In a few minutes, however tn« surface of the lake was again placid. The actual size of the blow-out was not judged, but several acres of the lake front are covered with mud, stones and timber. For fully 100 yards along the lake front there is thick mud, while a. point of land running into the lake near the blow-nut lifts been lengthened by about 30 yards. People who happened to he oh the balCoiiy of the Wai‘d Bath had ft splendid view of the outburst, but those who Were subsequently attracted from other parts of the town found all once more tranquil. This last blow-out, though well out in Die lake waters, was in the same locality as the last two outbursts a few months ago, when the Ngapuna pa was startled by a sensational blowout, a native garden being engulfed and wliares endangered. The whole area seems untrustworthy, and experienced men say that big underground forces are at work. The surface in places is very thin. Luckily no one was in the vicinity last evening, also that there was no property near to be destroyed.

TRAGEDY RECALLED. ERUPTION AT MAIMANGU. FOUR PEOPLE ENGULFED. On Sunday, August 30, 1903, there was a singularly sad fatality at Waimangu, in which four people lost their lives. A party which was doing the round trip by way of Wairoa, Tarawera and Rotomahana was too large for the one boat which was oil Lake Roto* rnahana, so it was divided into twtfi Half it life party Crossed the laiifi; While Mr Alfred Wart wick returned across Rotolrtaharuv for the other half of the party, the first half went on according to instruction given to Mr Joe Warbriek by his brother. Later, Alfred Warbriek saw three men walking round the slope of the hill to a dangerous spot. He called out to them to come back, which they did. A minute or two later his brother was observed to walk over to the same spot. Shortly afterwards two Timaru ladies, the Misses Niccolls, a Mr McNaughton, of Auckland, and two Australians followed Joe Warbriek. While they were standing there the geysfir went off. Except for the two Australians, they were caught in the fall of burning liquid, and that was the last, of them seen alive.