Our Special Reporters' Account. THE EARTHQUAKE AT TAURANGA, An Immense Dust Cloud causes Total Darkness. THE TOWN COVERED WITH DUST. Tauranga, June 11.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 157, 19 June 1886, Page 2

Our Special Reporters' Account. THE EARTHQUAKE AT TAURANGA, An Immense Dust Cloud causes Total Darkness. THE TOWN COVERED WITH DUST. Tauranga, June 11.

The alarm in Tauranga has completely subsided. It originated through the drift j ot immenso dust clouds from Turawera. i llie noise of tho eruption hero was totally different from that heard in Auckland. It consisted of a series of deep rumblings and earthquake shocks. About 3 o'clock yes terday morning the heavens in the direction of TaraWeia were illuminated with electricity. The appearance, as seen from here, was of lightning, the heavens blazing up with vivid flashes of sheet lightning intci mingled with brilliant forked lightning. The electric disturbances were greater than a severe thunder storm although without other sign of storm. The rumblings made tho buildings rattle. About seven o'clock on Thursday morning the great dust cloud began to make its appearance, drifting up on the south-east wind. It thickened until by eleven o'clock Taui-anga was enveloped in total darkness. The people believed that tho eruption must be nearer than Ohinemutu, and the greatest alarm prevailed. The streets in Taui.mga are now covered with tine dust to the depth of one inch, and in somo places the drift is three inches. The paddocks weic so completely covered that cuttle were unable to get a blade of grass, and came lowing in distress to the faim Such complete darkness prevailed for some hoiuv that lights had to be lit. About two o'clock, however, it had cleared away and the panic subsided. Last night the heavens in the direction of Taitvwcra were lit up with a brilliant glow for half-in-hour after sunset, but after that there was no indication of any unusual disturbance. The sky was beautifully clear, but throughout the night there was no renewal of the eurthquake or electric phenomena which was accepted as a pleating indication that Taraw era had expended itself in its great outburst, and is now quiet. No refugees from Rotorua had reached Tauranga on Thursday night ; it 13 believed that they stopped at Oropi. During the prevalence of the dust cloud at Tauranga, a shower of rain fell, which reached the earth like mud. The dust is almost wholly pumice and sulphur, and w hen wet turns black, and lias a sulphureous smell. Careful measurement of the dust deposit shows that it docs not exceed a quarter-of an-inch, although in places the diift shows a depth of three inches.

THE PANIC DENIED. Many people here deny that there was any panic, and say it was nonsensical to send to Auckland for a steamer. They have been deluged i\ ith telegrams, asking if Tauranga is safe, and are rather indignant at the idea of it ever being in danger having gone forth. It [Is reported here that the White Ten-ace, the marvel of the Lake legion, has been destroyed. If this should prove true, it will be a sad blow to the Kotorua district. Hazard's house was completely overwhelmed with showers of mud and stones. The mail road, via Te Puke, is also blocked up at Te Ngae with debris -aid to be 16 feet thick. When the great distance of these places from Tarawera is consideied, the force of the eruption may be estimated. Hazard's house at Wairoa stood on the opposite Bido of Lake Tara- \\ era, at least seven miles distant from the mountain, in a direct lino, and Te Ngae is at least seventeen miles. Tarawera has three cones, but never within the records of native tradition it has been in 'eruption before. The tradition relating to the lake fires describes the conveyance of the fires underground fiom White Island to the summit of Tongariro, heating the water and making it bubble up all along the way. From this iceord it would appear that the natives had never known the district to be materially liflerent from what it has been since the Europeans came, and the tradition ignores any idea of an active volcano between White Island and Tongariro. The outbreak, therefore, is of the most remarkable character, affording, like Vesuvius, another evidence that it is impossible to say when a volcano is absolutely extinct. Still although not active itself, Tarawera was in the centre of a Aolcanic region which is in a continuous* htate of ferment. Rotomahana with its wonders and its treacherous crust of earth, lies at the base of the hugo mountain, and Uie renewal of volcanic fires within tho mountain itself is not so very remarkable. Its situation is totally different from that Df the volcanoes of tho Auckland Isthmus where there is no trace of volcanic energy.

PREMONITION OF THE CATASTROPHE The natives say that there have been many signs of extra disturbance lately, not merely the outbreak of new springs, but a rise in the waters of the Lake and a change in its colour. No one, however, declared that the numerous escape valves all over the country would not have been sufficient to relieve any extra pressure. An outbreak of Tarawera was as far from the thoughts of the people as an eruption oi Vesuvius was to the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum, who had traditions of seven hundred years as their guarantee of safety. Fears were entertained of Ghe safety of Tahek on Lake Rotoiti, but the news received here shows no damage waa done there. The other East Coast districts are reported safe. I started for Rotorua via Oropi and Bush road at six o'clock this morning.