Premonitions of the Disaster. The Natives alarmed a week ago. Extraordinary Phenomena Observed. [TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Rotorua, this day.

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

Premonitions of the Disaster. The Natives alarmed a week ago. Extraordinary Phenomena Observed. [TELEGRAPH — OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Rotorua, this day.

I learn that for about a week past the natives in the Hot Lake district have been somewhat alarmed and excited because of certain strange phenomena which they observed. So strongly were, they convinced that something serious was, impending, that they( on several occasions jref used to take tourists to see the lions of the place, and once or twice parties of excursionists, had great difficulty in persuading Maori guides to accompany them. At Lake Tarawera it was observed that the water rose and fell in a rapid manner such as Had never been wit- „. nessed before, and a like phenomenon was > to 1 be/seen on Lake Rotomahana. On one occasion as si, party o£ tourists were landing from a boat; tne,water, of the , Lake rose'like a tidal waveband tnose, who had v'n6t; landed 'had "to,wait' till - T ' the T Vave, [subsided before,'ttiey /could' , 6.6 so.';;'.;""/ '•„, 'V v •" '■ - V: Near'Hfeel !t .WiiiW(! J TepaoeV!*many;',/, changed were observed; in" the holes, aiid ' f geysers,; f]so (1 tha'k; the.Maoris, werej I appreherisiye of some imperxding dis- ". .asterl^t^phia^theVeltknVynfemale' . iemarke'd ', w|tli J refereppe, to? 7 these? phe4o^na~" Oh clear rl-liave **'

never seen anything like this before. I don't like to go on ; the whole place has changed 1" It was observable that the geysers had been working with greater energy than ever was known before — the mud and stones ejected from them reaching points >vhich had hitherto been beyond range. l^.Ojdoubt i6 t -iy)w|eltthat» these were prembipti^ns'rpf *the ? terrific outburst of volcan^ energy ! has overwhelmed in ruins tlie^i'l^t sanatorium ,of New tlie claim of the district to the title of the Wonderland of the Pacific.