The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-22
NEW ZRALAND'S VOLCANOES.
How Earthquakesand Eruptions Ruined
the Wonderland of the AntipOdes.
Oceans of Molten Laya-The Romantic Hot
Lake District Completely Destroyed by the
Outburst-Death and DeSolati0n.
Auckland Letter. in New York Herald.

The most terrific volcanic eruption ever known
in the history of New Zealand occurred on the
10th inst. Mount Tarawera and its twin cone
Ruawahia, in the Hot Lakes district of the
North island, which have hitherto been classed
! as extinct volcanoes, burst suddenly into activ-
ity Immense volumes of fame were projected
to great height Dense clouds of smoke and
steam obscured the sky while vivid flashes of
smoke in all directions. Several violent shocks
of earthquake added terror to the scene More
than one hundred natives persisted.
The district Affected by the disaster is known
as the Wonderland of the world Tarawera
mountain, the scene of the volcanic eruption,
lies north and south, rising from the south end
of Tagawera lake, two miles FROM Rotomahana
1t is about 800 feet high. with three table tops
separated by two extinct craters, the formation
of which is beyond the memory Of man. It's
| surface Of bare volcanic rock contained no vege-
tation. Although there are, or were, two craters
on the top of the mountain there has been no
eruption within the memory of man, and the
Maoris had no tradition whatever respecting
this mountain Mount Trawera is about ten
miles from the settlement of TIE Wairo village,
which lies between Ratakakah lake and
| Tarawera lake, about two hundred feet
above the latter, connected by the Wairo
stream. Two years ago Ratakakahi lake,
which is about three miles in length
rose to nearly the boiling point. This was consid-
cred a most remarkable phenomenon, as the lake
was always cold before. There also very
strong outflow down the Wairo valley into Tara
vera lake. lasting for day. Since then the
Ratakakahi had remained at its normal state
The shores of Tarawera lake are rugged, and
rocky, and steep; its waters deeply and darkly
| blue. The lake extends some seven or eight
miles lengthwise, and is five six miles in
| breadth. The three fiat cones of Tarawera
mountains loom loftily to the southeast 2, 600
| feet above the level, and eastward, through
a gap in the ranges, the towering peak
| of Mount Edgcumbe IS plainly visible. Through
| that gap in the ranges runs Tarawera's outlet
| Ava to Atua (river of the gods). past Edg-
cumbe and away on to the Bay OF Plenty. At
some distance from its source the river forms q
magnificent waterfall.
The Rotomahana was one of the smallest
lakes of the lake district 1t is volcano.
It's form is very irregular on the south side,
where the shore iS formed by swamp; three
small creeks are meandering and dischaPging
themselves into the lake. In many places of
those swamps warm water streams forth, but
mud pools are also visible here and there. and
from the projecting points muddy shadows COW
cred with swamp grass extend almost as far as
the middle of the lake. At its north end the
lake grows narrower. The qantity of boiling
water issuing from the ground both on the
shores and the bottom of the lake, is truly
astonishing. There are three principal springs
to which the lake owes its fame. First of all is
the re Tarata at the northeast end
of the lake, with It's terraced
marble steps projecting into the
lake. the most marvellous of the Rotomahana
marvels About eighty feet above the lake, on
the fern clad slope of hill from which in vari-
Gus places hot vapor was escaping. there lies the
immense boiling ealdron in crater-like excava-
ton with steep reddish sides thirty or forty feet
high and open only on the lake side toward the
west. The basin of the spring is about eighty
feet long and sixty wide. and filled to the brim
with perfectly clear transparent water. which,
with the snow-white encrusted basin, appears OF
beautiful blue, like the blue turquoise.
The fat spreading foot of the terraces extends
far into the lake. There the terraces commence
with low shelves, containing shallow water ba-
sins These small water basins represent as
many natural bathing basins. Some of the ba-
sins are so large and deep that one can
easily swim about In them. During violent
water eruptions from the main basin
stesming cascades may occur. At ordinary
times but very little water ripples over the ter
races and only the principal discharge on the
south side forms hot steaming fall. After
reaching the highest terrace there is an extern
sive platform, with a number of basins, five or
six feet deep. their water showing temperature
of 80 to Ito degrees Fahrenheit. In the middle
of the platform arises, close to the brink Of the
basin, kind Of rock island about twelve feet
high deeked with manuka MOSES, lycopodium
and fern. 1t may be visited without danger and
from it the curious traveller has o fair and full
view into the blue boiling and steaming caidron.
Such was the famous TIE Tarata. 1t is now
feared that nearly all these beautiful wonders
have been destroyed The terraces are buried
in lava and the villages of the Maoris have been
swept away.
AS regards Auckland the first intimation re-
ceived of the terrible catastrophe was the sound
of loud explosions as Of heavy guns, and from
elevated positions in the city the flash rs of ar
tllery was distinctly visible. The impression
on the minds of those who witnessed these phe-
nomera was that vessel was ashore at the
Manukau heads. and was firing signals of dis
tress. and as there appeared to be more than one
gun fred at a time it was thought the vessel was
probably Russian man of-war which was known
to be the coast.
/ News was flashed from Rotoma that q dread
full night had been passed Every man, woman
and child thought his end had come. The SEN
satiou was fearful and indescribable. It com
menced about o'clock in the morning by sew
eral severe shocks of earthquake. The vibra-
tions were strong and frequent. The windows
in the houses ratified violently, the feeling being
similar to that board of vessel in
storm. People were RAINING about
frantically, when all at once a great roar was
heard, which was accepted at first as that of an
| earthquake, and a great glare appeared upon the
horizon. The scene was grand, but awful toward
Rotomahana. The flames were distinct, with
huge volumes Of smoke, with sparks of electrici-
| ty illuminating the whole sky, and it appeared
as if hundreds of bright stars were chasing one
another When this was at first seen by those
| who were outside they rushed about calling peo-
| pie up. Males and females of all ages left their
| homes and general rush was made for Ngatata
mountain for safety. Many left their homes Ia
| their night-dresses with shawls around them,
mothers carrying their babies or young children
with but one arm. to fee from the devouring
! element which was expected at every moment
to engulf the entire community, so great was the
! terror of the people. This was about 2 A. NJ.
| On the approach of daylight the vibrations less
| ened. but they by 10 means ceased. About
| o'clock there was a shower of ashes similar to
sand, supposed to be lava.
Mr.. McRae, the notel-keeper at Wairoa. gave
| your correspondent the following account of the
| destruction Of his hotel: 'About 1880 p. NJ. the
| place began to shake and shook continuously for
| an hour before the eruption broke out. When
this was first saen ii was lust lika small cloud