THE CAUSE OF THE ERUPTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1735, 16 June 1886, Page 2

THE CAUSE OF THE ERUPTION.

A careful comparison of the descriptions given by the most competent and careful observers -shows that the first outbreak undoubtedly began m that peak of Tarawera mountain known as ! Ruawahia. Not improbably some shifting of the earth?* crust beneath 'the mountain or soine change within it producing the generation of great heat caused the prolonged earthquake and rumblings which were heard between 1 and 2 o'clock m the morning, forming ■ the first of the series of phenomena j which attended the eruption. Soon after two o'clock Buawahia was observed to be aflame. Above it hung a canopy of black smoke, producing on the mountain j the appearance of a large mushroom, and the lightning played with such brilliancy round the peak that the glare from the volcanic fires was hardly distinguishable. There is no doubt, however, that the mountain . did emit flames, attended with the belching forth of redhot Btones, which could ; be distinctly seen as they were ejected into the air and as they rolled down the mountain sides. This continued for about an hour before the vomiting of the great mud cloud put of Lake Rotomahana which fell so disastrously on the village of Wairoa. The disturbances m Tarawera and violent earthquakes must, it may well be believed, have produced great fissures m the tender earth crust beneath Lake Eotomahana, letting the waters of the lake m large volumes covn upon the central fires. The rapid generation of steam thus produced would be sufficient to account for the ejectment of a vast body of mud, which, driven by the force of the cyclone Twhich the violent atmospheric disturbances bad produced 1 , travelled across the sou sh shores of Lake Tarawera m a track that is distinctly marked. This mud was deposited with marvellous rapidity. The survivors from - the Hazard family state that the first .shower which fell was exclusively stones, and made an ; uproarious rattle on the roof. Within half an hour from the commencement of the mud shower such an enormous quantity was deposited that the roof, without any prior warn r ing, fell straight m. A similar experience occurred with the other, houses at Wairoa. The steep angle of the roof of Sophia'i house, which caused the weight of mud deposited on it to rait on tbt I roimd, i1o«q iwtf if, -= .* ; f :