The Scene at Wairoa. McRae's Hotel Wrecked. Many Persons Killed and Missing. Taupo, 12 a.m.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 156, 12 June 1886, Page 1

The Scene at Wairoa. Mcßae's Hotel Wrecked. Many Persons Killed and Missing. Taupo, 12 a.m.

Taupo, At 3 a.m. this morning a terrific report aroused the sleeping inhabitants of Taupo, when an immense glare of a pillar - shaped light was observed to the! N.N.E. A great black cloud hung over this pillar-concave on the under side and convere on the upper, whilst meteors on all sides shot out from the cloud in every direction, shedding unearthly bluish lights. Loud reports accompanied by very heavy shocks of earthquake followed in quick succession, and this kept on till 6 a.m., when the daylight and the clouds of ashes rendered the sight invisible. The trembling inhabitants thought the end of the world had come. At 9 a.m. the news came along the wires that a terrible eruption was going on at Rotorua. At 2.15 a.m. three extinct volcanoes, Ruawhia, Tarawera, an immense column of flame and smoke ascended into the heavens and molten lava and hot mud ran in all directions, while huge rocks and masses of fire went up and around in all directions. The earthquakes were terrible. The inhabitants of Rotorua rushed madly about in their nights dresses and many left the township in conveyances for Oxford. The inhabitents of Ohinemutu are all safe, but there is a terrible loss of life near Tarawera and Wairoa. Messengers hare returned with the news that only two of the Hazard family have escaped, their house being buried beneath the lava. McOrae's hotel at Wairoa is also wrecked, but no information has arrived concerning the occupants. The bodies of fourteen Maoris were seen. Several native, settlers are submerged under .'the lava. The wind is blowing from the south end, and should it change to east, -it is feared the whole of Rotorua will go. Tongariroj is quiet. Heavy snow'is falling on the ranges, and the cold is intense. The rumbling still continues.