Terrible Volcanic Eruption.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2318, 11 June 1886, Page 2

Terrible Volcanic Eruption.

nigihi of EtottLen. Serious to of Life aM destruction of Property.'

(United Pkess Association.) June 10th, 1886,

Telegramß just to hand state Tauronga is in darkness and thick clouds of sulphurous matter, gypsum, &c., is in the air. From Rotorua all people fled in their nightelothes. Mount Tarawera Rotomahana Is reported to have broken out, and eruptions are goinsr on continually. The Native Minister received a telegram to tho effect that the house of Mr Hazzard, schoolmaster, Wairoa, near Tarawera, was struok by lightning, and i the whole family were killed, with the exception of tho two eldest daughtors, who were rescued by Mr Linden. Blue mud is boiling up everywhere. Mr' Mcßae's Hotel is completely wrecked, and one tourist is missing, Several Natives have lost their lives, but the exact number is not known. A Government agent haß left Rotorua for Wairoa with a relief party.

Mount Tarawera, the scone of the present eruption, and the lake are connected with Rotomahana. They, are situated midway between Tongariro, in the centre of this island, and Whakaari (the wellknow Sulphur Island) in the Bay of Plenty. There is a rotten dip between these two places caused by igneous action at various timos, and fumeroles, Bolfataras, and intermittent ycyserß aro abundant in a woll-defined line from Tongariro to the Bay of Plenty. It h probable that the outbreak has been at Rotomahana in the vicinity of its wellkuown geyßers. Later.

The Secretary of the Telegraph Department has received the following telegram from Rotorua:—••' Some surveyors from Wairoa havo arrived, They look an I though they had been through a limekiln. Wairoa is covered with ten feet of mud and stones and ashes, though six miles distant, as the crow flies, from the craters. At Ngoe, one mile distant, 30ft of mud is reported, There are no hopes for the Native settlements at Ariki nnd Tapahore." Another telegram says " Mrs Hazzard lias been rescued, but is soriously injured. Four of her children were found dead lying alongside of her. The hotels are in ruins, Luckily, two families were away. Fourteen Natives bodies have been recovered at Wairua only." The following telegrams have been received by the Undor-Secretary of Crown Lands from the officer in chargo 8t Rotorua :-" B.L'5 a.m. We are in the midst of a terrible convulsion of nature. The extinct volcano cones, Tarawea and Ruatuhia hurst into activity between one nnd two o'clock this morning with a constant succession of earthquakes, until about five o'clock, and now slight thunder and lightening is almost successive, and is still continuing. Immense volumes of flames and smoke from the oonos, and steam from tho locality of tho White Terrace, and showers of dust and grit reached here a little before six o'clock, but fortunately a shift of the wind has since diverted them, The sight is awfully grand, and reaemblos Martin's picture of" The Last Day." People are greatly excited; many have cleared out for Oxford, and Tauranga. The lako has risen considerably, and many new springs havo burst out. There 'is a small geyser just below my house. No serious damage is dono here so far. Messengers hare gone out to Te Wairoa to try and ascertain the position of matters there. The telegraphist here had no hope that the lines would be workable, but I am now informed he has secured communicatien. I think it desirable to let you know the .true state of the case to prevent the spread of unduly exaggerated reports. 9,19 a,m.—Buggies have just returned from Te Wairoa. There has been a terrible catastrophe at the Native School House which was struck by lightning and while burning was overwhelmed with a torrent of hot mud and stones. Mr Hazard and family are all dead excepting the two eldest sdrls, who wore saved by Mr Lundins pulling them through the window, Mcßae's hotel is demolished, and ono tourist staying there is missing. Tho servants, and also Mr Humphries, who have come in, Btate that the falling mud nearly knocked them down. Mcßae and Humphries are still out there, and buggies cannot get past Ti Katapa bush. Several natives aro known to be killed. I think there is no hope for those at To Ariki and More*. 1 am going out with a relief party to see what can be done. Gisboknb, this day. At 2.30 this morning the inhabitants of Gisborne were startled out of their sleep by a rumbling noise ( accompanied by shocks, causing house? to shake and the windows to rattle. As there seemed no likelihood of the phenomena stopping, a number of people got up and parade! the town in a state of great excitement. Attention was drawn in the direction of Rotomahana West to West-Soiith-West, by volumes of fire shooting up in the air out ofanumbrella-shapedcloud. The sight was a magnificent one. The clouds spread out over the whole sky, and tho rumbling continued until nearly four this morning, when a sharp shock of earthquake, followed by a second, and at 8 another slight shock. The town up to the present is nearly in utter darkness. The shops were all lit up. There is a distinct smell jpreyailinij the air, which had a seculiar effect v on many of the inhabitants, he affair Em earned great incitement. The this Mowing wtn lyiag about

in a hslpless fashion. Up to 2,20 the night was dear but intensely cA' At present it-is mining hard. ; '