The Rotorua Calamity.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1732, 12 June 1886, Page 4

The Rotorua Calamity.

LATER PARTICULARS.

(united press association.) Rotoru a, Friday. A dreadful night has just besn experienced, every man, woman, and child thought their end had come. The sensation wa* fearful and indescribable, it commenced about 1 o'clock yesterday morning by several severe shocks of earthquake. The vibrations were strong and freauent. The windows m the homes rattled violently, the feeling being trailer to that onboard of. a vessel m a stof 10. When the vibrations of the earti were first felt, people got up out of their •eds, thinkmg ft spring ©f some iort had broken out dooe to thoir dwelling, aad after searching nbout outside to discover tho cause, it became clear that some woaderful element was un usually disturbed. People were Waning about frantically, when all at once a treat roy wag heard, vrhich was accepted at firttlif that of an earthquake, and a great glare appeared on the horizon. The eceiie was grand but awful towards Rotoinasana, as that seemed a mass of fire, fne flames were distinct witn fen-e volumes of smoke, with sparks of electricity illuminating the whole sky, and it appeared as if hundreds of bright stars trare chasinsr one another. When this was at first seen by those who were outtide they rushed about calling people up, when males and females of all ages left their homes, and a general rush was aade for Ngatataha Mountain for safety. Many of them left their houses m their nightdresses with ghawls round them, mothers carrying their babes or young cbilaien running with one aim to flee from this devouring element, which was espeeted every moment to engulf the entire community, so great was the terror Of tho people. 'This was about 2 a.ra. The nigfet was wet and dark, and the load m a niuddy state. On reaching the •ahoolhouse, whitfh is oo the road, as the people vere betaking theuuelvee to JSgaßgotolii Mountain, Clark was ok the wi?siJ<s and advised the women to go ißfiide ©*<i t»ke shelter, as they ve£ as likely to be at »afe there as m •ay {tart they might reach. Many accepteJ, the invitation, and were made Tory comfortable by Mre Clarke and family, be.t othero refused, and hastened oo to get a* f*r away as possible. Some aye supposed *« have gone on, intending to rsich Tauranga or Cambridge. On Cite approach of dayliirht yesterday morni£g, the vibrations leoseaed, but they have by no means ceased, and many Tjhe had gone about seven miles from hero retofnod about 4 o'clock. There was a uliower of ashes similar to sand, supposed to be lava. Major Clarke condacieA divine service during the night m Mrs Morrieon's hotel. The Maoris did net rash ho frantically about r*a aid the Europeans. Comparatively few of the former left the settlement. Ratorua Lcke has risenjcousideraWy, and many of tho springs are very disturbed, and freuh oi.gb have broken out. The thunder still roars, the horizon m tho enßt is black with smoke. The sun is invisible now at 9 o'clock. Lamps are burning iii the telegraph office, with th* sky clear to the westward. The fjtorw are closed, and work is at a etandijtill, no one feeling inclined to do anything. How to get away from Rotoruais exercisiug the minds of m.ivy,. «ud gome are arranging to lake their departure at once. Tlioae who have come m from VVairoa are fomales. They prevent ft sad appearance, looking palb and ghastly, aud their dresses being smeared with lava. . . . ' The iutorruption of the wires at Kotorua is more serious than at first thought and the breaks an uot likely to be repaired till to-night. Men on the spot rsnort that the wires are clo-cged m placr-s wit'! n\M to the thicknesd.of a candle. Dr Hector is of opinion that the eruption may culminato at Mayer Island, outside Tauranga. Furfhor telegrams from the »cc»« of the eruption Plate that heartrending scenes occurred at ihe-natiTcoettlemenlf where the loss of children vraei very great. No confirmation ha& yet beeu received of the !jat«ty of the Terrace*, Ouo telegram ,e*y* "imply they have not been destroyed, but the general belief here among people who know the place is, that it is almost impossible they oau have escaped without injury.