Further Particulars Regarding the Fate of Te Ariki.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 157, 19 June 1886, Page 4

Further Particulars Regarding the Fate of Te Ariki.

B.OTOKUA, June 14. Major Mair, who hag just returned from Ohinemutu, reports that after leaving Wairoa, he proceeded direct across Tarawera to Te Arike Settlement, He found what was formerly there obliterated by the shore of Tarawera Lake advancing four hundred yards. The whole of the site of the settlement is covered with thirty feot of fino dust still hot, over which was a coating of four inches of mud. Ho trace of settlement or creek could be obtained. A good view of Kotornahana woa obtained. The place where the White Terrace stood i8 now occupied by immense fumaroles. The Terrace is destroyed. In the upper end of the lake a considerable amount cf water is visible, but the greater part is occupied by mud volcanoes and tutnaroles Ihe rent inside of Tarawera, from which the mischief began is about 900 feet long by 5 vide. It extends nearly to tho summit of tho mountain on the side next Rotomahana. Some part 3 of this vns>t chasm still show groat activity. Thoro ia sulphur about the crater, but it was clearly ascertained that there is no lava at Moura settlement. The pcrty landed waist deep in mud The settlement had slipped bodily into the Lake. On returning to Wairoa, it took over an hour to get from the boat to the top of the hill A j>arty of nine natives from Mataha had come over in search of their relatives, and were without provisions or water, havingwaded through-deep volcanic deposits. Major Mair gave them all the food and water he had. The Maoris have started homowards, Kothing fresh has occurred at Wairoa, and there are no landslip* It is now computed that altogether, 97 natives have lost their lives.

MESSRS WARimiCX and HUMPHREY EXFiSDITXON. Mr Joe Warbrick and Mr C. Humphreys approached Rotomahana yesterday by a different route from that which we took. They struck straight across to the Lake from Wairoa, near the shore of Tarawera, where there are heavy depositof mud, but farther inland, along thf> track taken by them, the deposit was dry earth and firm, until approach in<: the lake, when it became so soft that they sank up to their thighs. From the hill overlooking Rotomahana ttioj, got a view further into the centre of the lake, which was throwing up volumes o\ mud to a height of one hundred feet. Te Tara was invisible for Bteam, but a good view of Tarawera Mountain was obtained. The southern portion of the mountain appeared to be rent from top to bottom, and flames were still visable ; there was another crater to the East;. They counted seven active craters on Tarawera peak and three on Ruawahia.

A. Woman and Seven Children' Buried. Mr Warbrick, when making for Rotomahana, paasod the site of Thomp3on> house, five miles from Wairoa. Bi* nephew's were engaged digging it out, and has got down 4 feet without finding the roof. Thompson's wife and seyen children are supposed to be buried under it.

DR. HECTOR. Dr. Hector and party lpfb Wairoa in boata to-day, intending to' approach the 3cene from the Lake, and ascertain the fate of settlement Ariki and Moura.

Ajl Immense Meteor. An immense meteor holered over the Rotorua district &t 4 o'clock this morning, occasionally drifting north, then, back south, and oscillating, to and fro for half-an-hout emitting glittering electric light, and oc^ caaionally becoming obscure as if revolving. It then rose and for a time' showed an extensive lurid halo. At about 5 o'clock it reached a higher altitude, and assumed the appearance of a star of the first magnitude, remaining stationary. A noise as of distant artillery wa& noticed during the phenomenon*