English Impressions of the Tarawera Eruption.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 170, 18 September 1886, Page 4

English Impressions of the Tarawera Eruption.

The ideas which prevail abroad with respect to the effects of the volcanic eruption at Tarawera are very much mixed. The " Pall Mall Gazette" states : —"Details of the volcanic disturbances in New Zealand in June have been received. Mount Tarawera first became active, and was followed by the entire Paeroa range, including even Ruapehu, which has been extinct as far as tradition goes back. Through the Auckland Lake district, which measures 120 miles by 10, the soil is everywhere hot and crumbling, and is thrown into elevations which are pierced by geysers. Great distress prevails, throughout the district. Other phenomena of the disturbance were vivid lightnings* frightful earthquakes, sulphurous smells,ani leaden clouds which burst with thunder." The only impression one could gather from this summary is that the whole country from Tarawera to Ruapehu was involved in the outburst. Even Mr Stuart Cumberland, who was in Auckland during the. excitement *a hich followed the great convulsion, when writing an account of it for the "San Francisco Chronicle," said : " As a wonderland the New Zealand lake district if, I fear, a thing of the past. Doubtless fresh hot curative springs will burst forth, and thousands of curious travellers will, out of mere curiosity, be drawn to the scene of the disaster, but the terraces were un^ doubtedly the great if not the only attraction of the district ; and they are gone." Anyone reading this passage without a knowledge of the district would conclude that the curative springs of the Lake District and all the varied phenomena of the Wonderland had been destroyed, whereaß the eruption was local to Rotomahana, which, it has made more wonderful than ever, and it had rather a beneficial influence than otherwise upon the thermal wonders of" other parts of the Great Wonderland of the Hot Lake District. To correct these impressions, and at the same time give a connected account of the exciting incidents attending the eruption, a little book has just been igsued containing fifty four pages of reading matter descriptive of the eruption and the Thermal Springs District before and after it. The work also includes a good map showing the dust and mud deposits, the fissures and new volcanic craters, and thirty views, in colours, comprising tho following: — *' Mount Tarawera in Eruption. The Hkxt ix South End oir Takawera. T.JIE GrHAT KENT FROM END TO END OP" Tarawkra. View of the Eruption from Ruawaulu The Nmv Lakh, Rotomakakiki. View of tub New Lake and Rotomahana, from Top o£ Mount Tarawora. The Gouge or Rift Torn out of South End of Tarawera. The Black Crater. The WniTE Terrace (three views). The Pink Terrace (two views). Ohinkmutu Village ox L'akk Rotorua. Old Mission Church, Te Mu. Mr. Hazxrd's House (before and after,theeruption). Rotomahaxa Lake, Before Eruption (tyro views). IIOTOMAHAXA, After Eruption (two views). Wairoa Settlement (Before the Eruption}. Scenes in Wairoa (After the Eruption). Digging Out the Old Toiiunga. Captain Way's House (After tho Erup**, tion). Thk Old Mill. Tikitapu, oR the Blue Lake. Tikitapu Busn (After tho Eruption). • This book is published at the low price of 2a 6d, or 3s 6dan cloth, and its wide circulation should tend to correct much of the injurious misapprehension which has been, created abroad with' regard to the eruption and its effects. "/Copies oLthe book are now' procurable 1 at the Star office fo f r transmission by the outgoing Sari Francisco mail.' *'l , ( a , ' ' Auckland Star. ;

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