VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Waikato Times, Issue 2920, 2 April 1891, Page 2

VOLCANIC ERUPTION

THREE ACTIVE VOLCANOES. TWO EXTINCT OXES COME TO LIKK AOAIX. A NEW ONE FORMING. t ALL WITHIN A RADIUS Oi : t FIFTY MILES 1 Foil weeks past occasional subterranean rumblings were heard in I tic Waipa, 1 Raglan and Kawhia districts ; also seve ral sh M l) shoeli's of earth<|U".ke ! ; wrc felt. The hot springs on the River showed great activity, new ones forming in ijuitc uulooked-for places, changing the temperature of the river completely, destroying all the fish from !he pprings down to the entrance of the river into Raglan Harbour. About miles in a direct line from the thermal springs, Raglan, there are .some hot, springs on the ocean beach near the entrance into Kawhia Harbour, these, as well as the tirst-named ones, were unusually active. Being located below high water mark, their activity eonld lately be seen even when the tide was fuli in, steam being distinctly visible even over the breakers. New springs have formed in two places inside Kawhia Harbour-one just iuside on the northern shore, and the other below Mokai Kainga. With all these new features before their eyes, none of the inhabitants of the now stricken district looked forward to the great catastrophe impending, earthquakes being of such common occurrence in New Zealand, that to feel them oftener than usual does not intimidate its inhabitants. Karioi and Pirongia were both extinct volcanoes, and before the present outbreak, were covered up to their respective summits with dense bush. The first signs of their coming to life again were, tremendous slips taking place durin« subsequent earthquakes. I'hese slips could bo observed at a great distance, but even those risible signs of all impending disaster did not act as a warning to the inhabitants. The first of April, a memorable day for all those who have seen and heard of it, will 110 doubt remain well impressed unto them. The weather had been uncommonly sultry, the atmosphere charged with electricity for days past, heavy clouds overhanging Karioi and Pirongia, and not a breath of wind, when about three o'clock in the afternoon a shock of earthquake, lasting fully twenty minutes, ami coming in a direction from south-east to north-west, moving the earth as the waves in a big sea, must have been the motor to create an opening, for the long pent up subterranean forces, by (iuding a weak spot nu Pirongia, which mountain was not long: ill si'iiding up volumes of Kmoke, steam, fire, mud and stones. The air immediately got dense with ,smoke and ashes, enveloping the whole of the Raglan district in 0110 immense cloud, darkening the atmosphere, so as lo upmost eh inge day into night. Lightning and thunder followed one auolle'i' in r i;od sueee.-sio:!, / I'irongi 1 keeping on ( jietin.,- from his fiery bosom pr-'-j' utiles, f ist l r ami largei than stiv vet, invented mau-destroviug weapon of warfare e;m!d do. The now erater op-ne ' toward.-., the harbour of Aoten, where a'l the damage it. e-iy win I; will be io ,'!e.-l roy : hun.-aiids ul acres nf virgin fore-.L. W'hih- ail this revolution of nature took place on Pirongia. earthquaiies of the mo-t vehement, eh ir icier kept the Rairlan folks in a sf;;ie of al'irm, manv believing' that surely the end of tho world had arrived. The utter d irliiie.ss, and the one (ie lfrninir roar of both heivculy and underground artillery making even the bravest quail before their maker. That Pirongia had burst, the wire had informed us, but. wers-- wa.s to come. Tho same evening Karioi. the mountain conspicuous far away into the Waikato district, eonld not withi-taud tho tremendous pressure brought to bear on its rocky walls, cleft iu twain, and began to belch forth in company with Pirongia. By the glare of the liery emis-ions, tho new crater must, have formed on the north • oasteru slope. Fragments of rock were thrown right, ou to To Akau Station, .and streams of iavat are wending their way towards Takapuna, setting the be.sh ou tire in their descent. These fiery serpents are of such immense width that if Nature does not relieve itself by some safety valve or another, the entrance to Raglan Harbour will ultimately bo blocked up. The inhabitants 0; this district arc doomed. 1 Settlers, with their most valuable etl'ects, are trying to escape to the Waikato. but when they reach the main road to Hamilton they find other fugitives returning with the unwelcome news that the road over the mountain is blocked, and ■ nothing else remains for them but to try the Hut Springs road, which so fur is still just about pas-able for horse traffic, so rumour bus it. Raglan towuship is almost de-crted. The telephonist still 1 sticks to hi< post, as al.-o the local guardian of the peace, but all the publicans and other sinners liavo fled with tho j rest By some Maoris crossing from Tc I Akau, to come and save tribal heirlooms of theirs, we just learned that, from a point further north on the coast, they have seen volumes of smoke and fire escaping from the once barren rocks of I Karowa, or Ganuet Island. Timt will make the third aefcivo volcano within a ; radius of fifty miles. Let us hope that the upheaval of Karewa's will take somo I of the internal energy away from the I other two, and balance their ovil effects. ; What, damages have been wrought to 1 settlers' properties, or how many lives nre • lost, if any, we have not ascertained as • vet. One storekeeper, who stunk to his habitat till now, just tnado up his mind ' to depart inland. With him wo forward 1 these notes to you. If Providence sees [ tit, not to bury us here, we mtend to watch further developments and report again first opportunity. Should we bo | crematod by Karioi's furnace, put our : ashes into an uru uud givo us a resting I place on your shelf in the editorial room. Please label us: | Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, Tho oft-told story—the last the wu'sl. 1 To apeak kindly of dead un's is a general rule; Forgivo him, dear Reader, lie tried but to fool.