THE VERY LATEST. [FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.] Rotorua, Friday:

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2173, 12 June 1886, Page 3

THE VERY LATEST. [FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.] Rotorua, Friday:

Friday: Owing to the bad state of the road \JeWeen Oxfmd and Rotoiua yqur ,si»ecial" dti-l uoo arrive till between 1 aud 2 o'clock th--- 5,1.! iu;:jf at the latter place, though we •■ L f Ovford with a coach and five horues uud only three passengero. at

5 pin. It was intensely cold, freezing at that hour, and in the lung 12-nulo bush. .Before reaching here the mud w.«s thick, but the ice could be henid crunching under the wheels the whole tune. Indeed with any but Mich a diivcr an Willie Cut the road would have been unuafo. On the road up we met one of Carter's coaches loaded with tourists literally flying from Kotorua, who told us wo were little better tlun lunatics to go to such a place, and Harry Cat r, who drovo them, advised our dii\oi not to go into Rotnrua at night, as fresh ngawhas weie bursting out in various direction. \Vhen wo arrived here, wo found the excitement much calmed down, though people did not go to bed last night till long into the small hours, but tho smoke from Tnrawera has cleared off very much, and was very different to what it had been in the daytime yesterday, when no one could rend without the use or lamps till noon. The full foteeof tho catastrophe has been fult at Wairoa, where, out of neatly l">0 house's both European and Maori, only two are standing. Tho beautiful Tikitapu bush is utterly destroyed, tices are stripped of leaf and branch or thrown down, and the whole country about is covered with debris to a depth of from four to six feet The wor«.t of all is tho. loss of life as already published. The following is as nearly as I can give il from memory, not being able to take it down at the time. It is Mr Blythe's statement :— " I had arrived at the Wairoa from Galatea on Wednesday afternoon with my assistant Mr Harry Lunibden, and stopped foi the night, a.s I usually did at Mr Hazard's hnu.se. We weic nitting up late talking of the occulation of Mara with the moon, and when I was awakened by a slight shock at 2.20 a.m. I connected it in my mind with that event. In ten minutes exactly, by my warcli, a severe shock was felt, and the household, which consisted of Mr and Mrs Hazard, their four daughters, Mary Mohi, a Maori woman, myself, and Lnmsden got up and sat over a fire which Airs Hazard lit in the front room. At this time the ghower of projectiles was being scattered around, and wo were afraid to leave the house. Yroui then till half-past three there was an earthquake shock more or less severe, at exactly ten minutes' inverval. It was at 3.30 that the fearful catastrophe which caused the death of five of us occurred. Mra Hazard and the younger children got into the centre of the room for safety, the rest of us being in another room, when the roof, on which a coating of mud had accumulated in unknown tons, foil in With the enormous weight. I was standing near the outer wall, and the roof fell clear of me. Miss Hazard escaped. We then tried to find shelter for the young lady. doing to an old house at the back, the roof of which had fallen in, but which afforded shelter from the fiery projectiles and stones which ,were being showered down all round here. Wo left MihS Hazard and went back to the house- to try and save the inmates inside if still alive. We called out and shouted, but could get no reply, and, believing them to be dead,' turned our attention to getting the girls to a place of safety. Just at this moment a ball of fire sot light to the old house in which they were sheltered, and we had then to make for the road as our only means of escape. On reaching the paddock we found ashes lying nearly four feet deep upon the ground. Out on the road was a buggy, which had been brought over by Mr Robertson, into which we placed Miss Hazard, and we then made another attempt to save anyone, if possible, alive in the house. The house had been saved from igniting from the fire in the old house through the thickness of wet ashes which had settled around it. Lumsden heaid aery of distress inside, and kicking in a window the Maori woman, Mary Mohi, came out, dragging with her Mr Ha/.airt's second danghtur Clara, a girl of 17. Mary M"hi had pluckily kept yie latter alive by scouping the mud and* ashes away from her face as she lay crushed down towards the floor, and so preventing her fiom being suffocated. Further search discovered Mrs H.i/.ud, as alrendy descubed, still* alivu with her youngest children, the »>ne in her lap and the other ciu>heU at her feot. She said she had been conscious the whole seven hjurs she had been sitting there siuce the roof fell. It was then half past nine, and she had thought she hoard us shouting out side, but was too weak to make us hear in return. She had indeed thought we weie dead, and in her agony had envied us. She was then canied into Kotorua, and the two dead children wore removed to the house of Mr Hnmphries, wherean inquest was heldon them to-day. This is the substance of Mr Blythe's narrative and to-day a working paity left to search for the dead bodies of Mr Hazard and the two children, with result elsewhere telegraphed. A number of horses were driven in from Wairoa. The poor beasts struggling through mud and ashes with which they were covered from head to foot, one of them being injured with the falling stones. The wholo country is covered with mud which some think was thrown up from tho Okaro Lake, and fell in a shower of flakes like snow. A mountain alongside, some 130 feet high, has been completely levelled with the lake. The destruction amongst the Maoiib has been great, a« will be seen from Sophia's narrative, but as far as is yet known no others than the members of Hazard's family, except the youngest and the tourist, Mr Bainbridge, are known to have perished. Ono of the Maori women was killed in trying to escape from Wairoa with her child on her back, when they were both struck down and killed by the felling stones, her husband being severely injured iv the head by another stone. Mr Lumsden in his gallant endeavour with Mr Blytho to save life was considerably bruised and crushed about the hands, and Mr Blythe himself was crushed, but not seriously injured, by stones falling upoii his back. The conduct of Messrs Mcßae, Robertson, Murchesson, and others was simply heroiu in their efforts to save life under such a shower of missiles and amid such sulphurous exhalations, which at time.s almost choked them, during the time they were digging Mrs Hazard out and removing her to a place of. safety. I am glad to say news wan received from a native, who passed them on his way here, that the White and Pink Terraces are uninjured. Their loss would have been a world-wide calamity. ' The natives living in the settlements, Te Anki, which had about thirty inhabitants, and Morea, some twelve or fifteen, have, it is believed, perished. It is certain those at the latter settlement hitve done so. One thing waa noticeable here and at Ohiuemutu. In the heat of fcbe scare yesterday morning the people forsook the Government township, and took refuge in the higher position of Pukeroa. Mr Mcßae, this morning, states thnt about twenty minutes to one it began to »liake continuously for about an houp before the eruption broke out. When this was first seen, it was just like a small cloud and the mountain shot with flashes of lightning of great brilliancy. All hands were got out of bed, and we went up to the old mission station to ascertain the cause of the occurrence. We saw a sight that no man who saw it can ever forget it. Apparently the mountain had three craters, and flames of fire were shooting up fully a thousand feet high. There seemed to be a continuous shower of balls of fire for miles around. As a storm appeated tp be coming we returned to the hotel, and shovtly after, what seemed to be heavy hailstones came pouring on the roof, and continued for about a quarter of an hour. This was succeeded by fall of heavy stones, fire-balls and mud lava falling after the manner of rain. The weight of these sutotonctis upon the roof soon began to toll upon ifc, The fiot portions to give way were the detached kitchen and pantry. Then we all collected together in the smoking-room ; those present were Mv and Mrs Humphries and Mr Minnett, of the Terrace Hotel, Mr Stubb, a gentleman staying at the Terrace Hotel, Mr Baiubridge, a young; tourist, Mr Fitton, storekeeper, George Baker, the nook, Mary Kerr, and Mary Bridgan, Messrs John and William Bird, brothers-in-law, one of whom arrived the previous night from Rotaoitioiti with a •waggon load of goods for my store. There were also ,s,ome Maoris in the house. Tbe roof of the hotel jraye way about 4.30 with a loud smash, and the whole of tl f e upper story collapsed. The debi is falling into the rooms below. We left the smokingroom, and went into the drawingroom, wljigh, as it was the newest part of the house, we thought would stand the longest, but k it waa with the greate-st difficulty thafc we got there, owing to the fallfng stone* and mud which impeded us. Wlieu we went out side oveiy body, without exception, was cool and self-possessed, a,jd as good as gold. Tbd back part of the house in whjph u c weie gave way next, and all of a sudden we heard a fearful crash and roar as if thousands of tons of stuff were falling. We heard the baloouv come down and the' danger of our position \vat» now painCvUly

apparent. Mr Bainbridge remarked on this fact, and suggested that we should engage in sonic sort of religious service, he remarkine with awful prescience that he expected to be before his maker in nn hour or m>, We acquio«ced and Mr Uainbrulge read a portion of Scripture and said a prayer, in which we all fervently jojned. At the same time we agreed that we should make an effort to save ourselves, and with this object wo determined to leave the hotel and make for the first Maori whare wo saw standing. At the time a terrific gale and the fiery stones and mud were still descending incessantly, and we agreed to stick together. Mr and Mrs Humphries and Bainbridge went out first, the two girls following with the rest. It was so dark we could not see our hands before us, and we directed our way by instinct, calling one to another frequently to ascertain our position. Some of the men and the two girls acrived at Sophia's whare, when we found that Mr and Mrs Humphries, Messrs Stubby Bainbridge, and Baker were missing. In a shower of nothing but stone* and mud I went out to try and find where they were. I found Baker stuck ajrainst a tree, took him to the whare, and went back to the hotel to find the others. I found Stubta and Minnetfc, having groped abont for some time in the rain, had returned to the drawing-room. I directed them to the whare, and then went tpwards the whare, and my delight was great when I heard the voice of Humphries answering my shout. Ho and his wife were making for the carved house. I went to the whare looking for Bainbridge but could not find him, I haven't seen him since. It is my belief he was stunned by'the falling stone, and lies under the mud which now lies 5 feet .all o\er the settlement completly covering everything up. No day light appeared at the usual time C.30. I got a candle in a bottle and went up to Mr Hazard's. It was still pouring mud and stones, and I was knocked down 3or 4 times. I had previously been struck when looking for the others. When I : reached the school I found the two eldest daughters, and a little Maori girl, Mr Blythe and his assistant, Mr Lumsden ; some of them sheltering in the fowl-house, and others under the lee of a part of the house which was still standing. The house was in ruins and flames, and I could see no signs of Mr or Mrs Hazard and the other children. I sent the party down to Sophia's, the first whare, and thence as soon as a glimpse of daylight came, which was about 8 o'clock, all the party, with the exception of John Bird and myself, started for Rotorua, looking for Bainbridge. We then made a search for Mr and Mrs Hazard, but were unsuccessful, and we then collected the horses and started for Olrinemutu. When a couple of miles ontheroad we metMessrsHumphreys, Minnett, and Blythe, who were returning in company with Mr Douglas and Constable Maroney who had ridden over from Rotorua. They had sent the ladies on in Robertsons buggy which met them at Tikitapn bush. Mr Robertson was unable to come on as the bush was demolished. Every trea has been destroyed, and the bush road blocked up with mud and fallen timber. We all returned to Wairoa and commenced to dig for the bodies of Hazard, and to our astonishment found Mr.- il.ir/ird alive, two of her children were found dead beside her, but she was not much injured. We continued operations till we were qviite exhausted, but found no bodies. We carried Mrs Hazard to Sophia's whare, and applied re-tnr.itiws, brandy and port wine, which were the only things we could get. A lolief patty, headed by Mr Johnson and Mr Robertson (the kindness of the latter none of us can «vor forget), arrived, and they pressed us to come to Rotorua, and it took the whole of our party to carry Mrs Hazard through the bush. We were glad to nieet Dr. ftmders and his son, Mr Staneys and Mr Rocho, as they rendered great assistance. The obliging manager of Mr Carter's coach business at Rotorua met us with a buggy and a very welcome supply of bread and butter and whisky. Wairoa, as you know, was a beautiful plttce, with its English trees, shrubs, and its bush. Well ! Imagine that everything, buildings, trees, and every green thing is stricken down and buried in mud. Three-fourths of the trees in Tikitapu bush are down, and that beautiful spot is beautiful no more. The whole j)lace is a picture of desolation. Rotokakalii is U feet higher than usual, and the oreek to Tarawera whioh forma the well-known waterfall is dried up. The water in this and Tfkitapu Lake ia now of a muddy character. Mr Humphries coroborates Mcßae's statement. The place, he says, looks as if a terrific snow storm had occurred between here and Tarawera, the hills are • covered with whitey brown mud to a depth ranging from a few inches to several feet. Mr Humphries went down to the margin of Lake Tarawera and noticed no difference in it. . Mrs Humphries, Miss Budin, and Miss Deane have nothing to add, to what Mcßae has stated, except to say they owe their lives onth'oly to the hernia oonduot of that gentleman, He waa simply indefatigable, and in noticing his coolness and watchful care of the party, it may be added that Mr Mcßae gives the highest credit to the ladies for their coolness and courage under circumstances of the most terribly trying character. I We interviewed Sophia, the well-known guide to the Terraces. Sho was coining up from the Pnniatu Ripua, where all the Wairoa natives are congregated to the number of about 150. She was poorly clad, having given all the clothing in the store to the natives who es- \ caped almost naked. She said she lost two wooden ' houses and store at" Wuiroa, her whare whore she lived being tlie only dwelling left standing In this onoe prosperous settlement, Mid . that is half buried in mud. She wept as she said that "Wairoa was gone." Aocording to her narrativa eight n»tivas w»rekjll»d, Thejr names ate Mary Ann, Tatnati,' Mercata,' Marete, arid Urutu, all Wiata a man and three children. Two of the latter belonged to Fenitito, aud one named in remembrance of Rev. Fairbrother. Four other natives were with difficulty saved from the. wrecked whares. Sophia could tell us nothing about the fate'of Te Araki and Morea settlements, but she said there was little hope that they were saved. The natives of these settlements belong to the Ngatihaui and Ngatirangitihi tribes. The Wairoa, natives belong to the Tuhourangi tribe. The native who oamo from Rotomahaua last night and reported the safety of the Terraces, says that Rotomahana is nothing but a boiling pool, and he believes the native settlements on Tarawera are completely buried. The mud has been thrown over a 10 mile radius from the crater of Tarawera. The beautiful Te Ngae farm, on the other side of Lake Rotorua, is covered with about mix inohqa of mud.. A native sent out, reports that theter- j races are uninjured, but Rotomahana Lake had subsided, and was now a body of mingled (ire and water. Ho also states that tho hill at the back of the pink terraces was showing signs of activity. The Tub.oura.ngi tribe are left utterly destitute, and many of them have not sufficient clothes. Ropata behaved like a true chief. His weather-board house was destroyed by fire b.alls, but lie remained with his paopte, and saw them »U away before leaving himwelf,

Cattle Starving at Te Puke. A telegram from Te Puke, 25 miles from Rotorua says the country is de.solatcd, the feed is all covered up, and the cattle, are starving. The Qnvevninpnfc have been asked to send pressed hay to Tauranga. Te Puke is one of Vesey Stewarts special settlements.