The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2174, 15 June 1886, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

TUESDAYS JUNE 15, 1886.

The terrible catastrophe that has overtaken the Lake District, in the fearful^ volcanic eruptions at Tarawera, must be regarded as a national calamity. The great loss of life amongst the European and Maori inhabitants is deplorable. To become suddenly told that entire settlements have been swept out of existence at.* moment's notice is an experience that was hardly dreamt of in this colony. We have grown familiar with such fearful calamities occurring in other parts of the world, which have been generally recognised as,- the seat of such mighty subterranean forces, localities wheVe they might be said to be cxppctf'cl at all times. It is true that tho, greater part of the North Island owes its origin to volcanic agencies, and is still subject in some places to their activity. But no one ever imagined that such a fearful revival was possible. The forces were supposed to be in a quiescent state, and becoming gradually lament. Earthquakes have occurred fn different parts of the island from time to time ; but these phenomena, except ou one or two remarkable occasions, have always been of a mild character. l In countries where they are prevalent to an alarming.i'estent ' such shocks as have been felt in New Zealand would have attracted little or, no notice. Mount Tarawera, like many other ancient volcanic cdnes in this country, bpre the appearance of a completely 'extinct volcano. Its aspect was at all times wicked and appalling ; ' its rugged, massive and precipitous sides rising upwards and overlooking the lake passage to the Terraces with a vicious, frowning look. The natives have no traditions amongst them of Tarawera ever having at any tynie being active. They always scouted the idea of any eruption breaking, out there or in any other part of DEtotontn.liana, country. It was no later than the previous Monday that a lady tourist s^iid to Sophia, the native guide, thai ihey .would all' be blown up some .'of these days, to which she replied "Oh ! no fear ! nothing of thatr 1 sort will ever happen ;" yet, "two nights after the least expecteel of all dread events actually overwhelmed thdm. From the graphic accounts supplied by our correspondents it will be observed that a fearful change of scene has suddenly come over the hitherto prosperous and progressive Lake district. Tho whole population is panic-stricken and' contemplate leaving tho locality. There has been sad loss of life, great hardships endured and narrow escapes from a violent death, t The colony, from one end to the other, feels deeply moved by this disaster. The loss to the country will be great, inasmuch: as the pride of its Wonderland, the greatest of its natural wonders, and chief source of attraction to foreign tourists, has in all probability been obliterated from existence. The ruin of Kotomahana and the beautiful Terraces' is nothing short of a national disaster/ The large sums of money that have been spent in the past and were to beexpended in the future in embellishing the sanatorium at Rotorua and in adding to the attractiveness of the land of wonders, will probably prove futile through this unexpected

calamity. The outburst of the volcano will assuredly do immense injury to the permanent tourist traffic, resulting in the collapse, at any rate for many '.^ears , to 4 coniey of the prpgress o$ piiinqmutu arid Rotorua whicl^ * has * h^thepjjo appealed . so promising Nothing that has Hakeir place can approach in sadness the great many lives that have been lost. It is not necessary here toenter into a geographic description of the sceneof°couvulsion; that has all appeared very recently in the interesting articles written by our special reporter who travelled over the ground only two months ago. It is a certainty that the native settlements of Moura and Te Ariki, situated on Ihe south end of the lake, and close under Mount Tarawera, must have been utterly destroyed without the hope of a single creature ever escaping alive from them. Like Herculanceum and Pompeii of old, they must be buried deep in ini,inense deposits of burning lava, 'mudand scoria.

Every Englishman is filled with the pride of race whenever some fresh instance is chronicled of the heroism and steadiness displayed by our countrymen in all parts of the globe on occasions of great peril and sudden danger. The unflinching front and devotion of the chivalrous soldier in the face of great odd* ; the steady discipline of the sailor, who will go down with bis ship rather than dishonour his flag and country ; the self-sacrifice of the miner who willingly gives his life to save the victims of fire-damp ; the gallant fireman who rushes through the raging conflagration to' the rescue of the helpless ; or the thousands of brave men and noble women who fearlessly look death in the face in the time of famine, pestilence and appalling physical calamities with stout unfailing hearts, all fill us with joy and are like our own peculiar inheritances. Max O'Rell in his brochure, " John Bull -and his Island," says that an Englishman loves to be surrounded by dangers and is cool and happy^ when in the midst of them. It is j not in the field or on the ship's deck I only where brave deeds are done In the mids,t of our own prosaic colonial life, away from the excitement of Old World struggles and strife, beyond the sound of wars or storms even, we are liable to be called upon unexpectedly, without a moment's warning, to meet death under circumstances the most frightful and shocking. Such an event has just happened to us in New Zealand. One, of^ the most terrible visitations that* can befal the inhabitants of the earth, the sudden eruption of a volcano in the centre of a peaceful settlement, has taken place in the Lake Country. The horrors of the disaster, the loss of life, destruction of property, and the terror it caused, have all become familiar to the public. Blended, however, with sorrow for the .dead, and our sympathy for the bereaved and distressed, is our great admiration of the heroic conduct and cool courage our countrymen and countrywomen sustained throughout the scene of horrors. The calm manner in which JMr and Mrs Hazard, with their family around them, rose in the hour of dread peril and met death, prepared like true Christian saints to answer the sudden call to meet their God, is most admirable. So also was the cool, collected conduct of the lost young tourist, Mr Bainbridge, who, realising the imminence of their peril, and while the building was being crushed under the weight of ejected mud, led off in offering up prayers to ths Almighty, "for he knew^he would sopn^be before his Maker." He was a/ genuine speci-men-of a noble-spirited^ well broughtup, brave English lad, who knew how to die. Then, again, the unflagging courage and cool heroism displayed by Mr Mcßae in protecting the people who were with Kirn, and in placing under such shelter as he could discover the helpless women of the party, is worthy of paeons of praise. Time after time was he knocked down by stones and^ mud as he made his way through the dense darkness and perilous road to grqcure aid for the en£om.bed inhabitants. His unwearied exertions are th 6 theme of general admiration. Several people of both sexes owe their lives to his protecting a rm. The Victoria Cross has been pin led by the Sovereign on the breasts of brave warriors whose valour >ira% l%s mjore conspicuous. fchj* n JtytcEae's, and such noble conduct as jhis merits the highest recognition. We, would suggest that it be recognised in a public manner. Mr Blythe, Mr Lundins, the four or five young women who were there, were all cool and self-possessed, notwithstanding the terrors around' them. They were all true to their blood and race, and we feel proud of them. This will be the verdict of the whole empire, wherever their story is read.

A meeting of the executive committee of the Railway Reform League will bo held at Hamilton at 3 p.m. to-day. ,

Mr R- Kirkwood, hotelkeeper, Cambridge, has convened a meeting of hit. creditors.

A youthful Mormon missionary with his wife, at present in Cambridge, intends to preach the new dispensation to the natives.

Several Cambridge residents, including Messrs Whitaker, Hewitt, Allwill, and Lewis, have gone to visit the scene of the Volcanic eruptions. l

A concert in aid of the funds of the Tiunahere school will be held on Friday evening next, and pnimi«ei« to bo n success. The Hamilton Band have kindly consented to bo present and t ike part.

The funeral of tbe late/ Mrs Cushney took place at Cambridge on Sunday afternoon, and was attended by a very large number of people, many settlers from the country districts following in vehicles and on horseback.

There is on view in the shopwindow of Mr Bond, stationer, Cambridge, a capital pencil-drawing of Sfonnt Tarawera, from a sketch taken by Mr H. Cowper durinpr his tour through the Lake country about two months ago.

The arbitrators in the case between Mr A. Isaacs and the Telegraph Depart-

ment have returned from a partial inspection oMbe line between Cambridge and Tiyupo. They intend to complete their survey Bh(»rtly, after which Judge Smith will Rive his award. „ ,

Mr Matthew Burnett, the great temperance mlv<>c»tff, who is at preient louring in Wellington, ha» had to abnn- ; don hi% contemplated visit to Auckland, hjji wife'tillnegs neo?a»itating hit imtneditite departure from Ne*- Zealand.

Mr John Grice, of Rotoranxi. was married yenterday morning to Mm Reynolds, of Pukekur*. 'I'he^ ceremony 'wa« periormed lit tho residonco of the bride's fnther,' Trecarne. by the Yen. Archdeacon Willirt, nftnr which the happy pair left for Auckland by the early train.

An advertisement inserted by the chairman of the Kihikihi Town Board, appear* in another column, calling a mooting of the ratepayers of the Kihikihi Town District, to be held on the 17th, for the purpose of considering the advisability of petitioning the House of Representatives to exclude town boards from the jurisdiction of county councils.

A meeting of the Hamilton Road Board waa held on Saturday last to receive tendon for the reforming and gravelling contracts on the old Whatawhata road. The following tenders were received :— J. Goodwin, reforming, 2s lOd per chifin ; Ed. "Martin, gravelling, (ssd~per yard.reforjning, 7« lOd per chain ; J. jDeegan, gravelling. 9d, reforming, 3s; R. Waite, gravelling, BJd, reforming, 3» lid ; J. Jones, gravelling. Ski, reforming, 3« 4d ; J. Coombea, gravelling, lOd, reforming, 3d ; R. Dellicar, reforming, 2»Dd. Mr Dellicir'n tender for reforming, and Mr Ed. Martin's tender for gravelling were acconted.

We understand thit «tepi are being taken to gejt up an entertainment in Hamilton in aid of the nnfferert by tile late volcanic eruptions at Tarawera and Wairoa. A large number of natives must be practically destitute, an also several Europeans, Who have lost their all, »nd relief from outside places will be most acceptable no doubt to enable them to make a freih stf rt in life. It behoves everyone therefore to give his mite, and we nave no doubt that many volunteers will be found willing to S've their services for th« occasion. Tim omus Dramatic Club no doubt, with thei& usual spiritedne«s, would »«d«t,and something worthy the occasion should be the outcome. We wish the promoters every success.

The cricket match, Australians v. Cambridge University, was continued on Friday and Saturday at Cambridge. The Australians continued their first 'inning, and put together 222 before their last wicket fell. The Cantabs were all disposed of in their first innings for ft total of 143, Rocke being the principal scorer with 28 to his credit. The Australians then wont in for their second innings, and remained at the wickets all day on Saturday, running up the magnificent score of 326 for the loss of only five wickets. Jarvjs played a fine innings, carrying out life bat for 98 ; Trimble made 56, »1«> not out ; Scott, 57, run out; Jones, 30, caught; Giffen, 4,, caught ; Bonnor, 36, caught ; and Bruce, 34, bowled. The match was drawn, in favour of the Australians.

That wonderful piec6 of nlechaniBin, the model of the Great Clock of Strasburg Cathedral, was on exhibition, atrain cm Saturday at the Public Hall, Hamilton, and attracted large audiences during the afternoon- and evening. W» have already published a detailed description of the model, which must, however, bf r seen and minutely inspected before a jufti idea of its marrellous character can be formed. > The model, which stands 12 feet high, i* one-fifth the size of the original, | but it is a faithful copy in every particular.. For the purpose* of exhibition, however, $ some necessary changes in the working have, been effected. For instance, while in thej original the procession of the Apostles only takes place once a dny, in the model it occurs every quarter of an hour, and bo with other movements. Mr Jameson dolivers a most instructive lecture at intervals, explaining the clock in detail. The clnok in well worth a visit. It will bo exhibited at Cambridge during the week, and none v should miv the opportunity of seeing it.

His Lordship, the Bishop of the Diocese, accompanied by Mrs Cowie, arrived in Hamilton on Saturday. On Sunday morning he preached in St. Peter's Church, and in the evening administered the rite of confirmation to twenty-sey«n candidates of both sexes. There was a crowded congregation, many of whom were unable to obtain sitting accomodation, though the ordinary pews had been supplemented by chairs. Prayers were *aid by the Incumbent and the Rev. H. S. Daviesread the lessons. The service Wan entirely choral and the Urge choir performed their task excajlently. The Bishop preached a practical sermon on the words. "Abound more and more," I Thes., IV. chap. 1 verse. Aftor alluding to the appropriateness of the day, b4ing the anniversary of the day when the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles, , his Lordship impressed upon the candidates tho necessity for keeping their faith .alive and Active. In the afternoon his Lordship attended the Sunday SchoWat the Public Hall, and presented' the Bishop's prize* won by the pupils of S. Peter's, and ad dressed some kindly, encouraging word* to the young people. The following were the recipients of the prizes :— Grade I : Geo. Scorgie, prize; John Andrew, Arabella Manktelow, Alice Sander Harry Hume, certificates. Grade II : Alice G. Graham, Florence M. Logic, certificates. , , ;

A public meeting of the burgesses of Hamilton, called in compliance wfith a petition to the mayor, was held in the Pnblic Ha.ll, last nieht, to consider the question of allowing cattle to wander on the streets. The Mayor was in the chair, and explained the object of the meeting. Mr W. Jones moved a resolution to the effect that in the opinion of the meeting By-law No. 4 should be retained in its entirety, and that the alteration proposed by Cr. Knox to eliminate the! portion referring to the 40-chain radius would be most oppressive, unjust, and detrimental to the interests of burgesses living on the outskirts of the borough, more particularly in thexe depressed times. This was seconded by Mr W. Murphy. Mr Knox pointed out that the bye-law was ultra vires, because both the Public Works Act and the Police Offences Act provided penalties for allowing cattle to roam about the streets. When he moved the amendment to the bye-law he was not aware of the provisions of the statutes referred to. A long and desultory discussion ensued, and various suggestions were offered, the general opinion of the meeting being in favour of allowing cattle in limited numbers to be at large in the day-time only. Ultimately the motion was put to the meeting, when out of about eighty persons present, twenty-two voted for, and tix against it. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the mayor.