TARAWERA ERUPTION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 135, 30 January 1932, Page 6

TARAWERA ERUPTION

mr. r. griff1ths recalls ! his record ! flight. difficult rescue work. Sonie amusement was caused at the Waiotapu Hotel luncheon on Tuesday by Mr. R. Griffiths' story pf his fiight from the Tarawera eruption. On the night of the eruption he was managing a store at Ohinemutu. Two violent earthquakes occurred and threw him out of bed. He struck a match. to see what was happening but the rush of air blew it out. He became ,frightened and decided to clear out. "I could run a bit in those days,' he admitted, "and I reached Te Awahou, eight miles away, that night." The next morning he turned back toward Rotorua and met the crowds hurrying from the town, carrying children and belongings on their backs. The refugees assembled in the schoolhouse and some attempted to return next day, bnt the sulphur was still falling heavily. When he | got back to his stor? he found that

only one tin had been knocked off the shelves. The shakes continued for several days and hundreds of refugees found their way into town. The work of rescue was very difficult, as they had to cut their way through huge trees which had been brought down in the Tikitapu Bush. They had to make their way with axes, picks and shovels, but succeeded in bringing many people into town.