The Volcanic Disturbance.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2326, 21 June 1886, Page 2

The Volcanic Disturbance.

United Press Association. Kotokua, this day. Last night Arthur Hazard, brother to the late 0. Hazard, and Messrs Perey and Lponard Robinson, returned from .the expedition to Wairoa via Kaiteriria, bringing baok clothing for the Hazard family, settlers bullocks, and the natives cattle. They took three horses and a pack horse, with shovels to dig out the horses when bogged, or to clear landslips. They found the Kaiteriria track as bad as that by the Tikitapu, landslips and avalanches of inud threatening to precipitate them off the narrow track alongside lake Botokakahi into the lake. They slept in Runanga House* at Wairoa, on Friday night, but, owing to violent earthquakes, got little sleep,\running outside; at every shock. They had a terrible' journey, taking twelve hours to reach Rotorua. Fortunately rain clouds did not break over Wairoa, but were carried northward, or they would have had to abandon their horses, and \ find their way on foot to save their lives. As it was they had to dig out the horses twice, the suction of mud being such that the horses could not lift their feet. They have no intention of returning for mor e goods, as the experimeat after yesterday a

experience is too dangerous. The cattle out would have died in a day or two. They,only lived by gnawing the boughs of treeß. T)"i party report that strange natives from the inland settlements had come down to ; Lake Rotokakahiin canoes, and were plundering Mcßae's and Humphries' stores, clearing out blankets,.clothing, etc. Mcßae has information that £2OOO is goue, and that comparitively little is left, save a small quantity of tins of salmon. About £IOO worth of hotel linen is gone. Some plunder, it is stated is being carried away to . Upper . Taupo. Hayward's party found two natives lying down drunk in Mcßae's wrecked hotel, having broken into the spirit cellar. Other, natives had seized the stock of liquor and carried it away. Constable Cavanagh left to-day for Kaiteriria to intercept the plunders as they came back from Wairoa by lake Rotokakahi. He recovered £4O worth of goods at Kaiteriria. A heavy northeasterly gale with heavy rain commenced yesterday, and Te Puke route is almost impassable. Mr Downey reports that he had a hard job to get here from Tauranga by that line. The stench along the line at intervals from carcases of cattle and horses killed by starvation and still lying unburied, is great.