Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-24

fneet, anu hoouou ihSey' Inv
thunder roared from every psint, the
whole atmosphere being filled with air
peryaded with suffocating sulphur
stencil. All along the road springs had
broken out in every direction, bubbling
and boiling, rendering walking q task of
extreme danger. BY this time the inhabi-
tsnts were aroused to sense ofthe immi.
pent danger Of their position, and, sal
wing forth from their homes, were de-
parting toward Perekoi through the
deep darkness, unillumined except by
lightning flashes, and picking their way
with the aid of lanterns. During the
whole of this time a gale Of wind was
blowing across Rotorua and toward the
seat of the eruption, which probably
proved the means of saving the town
ship. At about A. M., however, the
wind suddenly dropped, the smoke all
over Rotorua became denser, and then
a thick and heavy shower Of ashes began
TO fall continuously. Then, indeed,
Rotorua people gave themselves up for
lost; the darkness became thicker, no
one knew which way to turn, and dawn
was earnestly pray ed for. At about g
A. n. day began slowly to break. Below
the jetty canopy thin blue line was seen
on the northern horizon, and gradually
the surrounding objects became dimly
visible, and it was seen that all the
surrounding hills and all the face Of the
country was covered with white ashes.
Still the black pillar rose from Tar
awers, but the sulphur gases were less
oppressive, and the people began to
breathe more freely. When day began
to break the thunderstorm abated, and
soon the sky became comparatively
clear except in the vicinity Of Tarawera,
whence the inky pillar still elevated
itself. But at 9 O'Clock the pail again
spread over the heavens, and darkness
began to set in. At 10 he started on
foot for Oxford in advance of the coach,
which was to overtake him on the
road. Daylight had now the popularity
seen in total eclipse Of the sun.
From the Auckland Herald, June 2lst.l
On reaching Lake Rotokakahi it was
found it was again rising, though yet
about seven feet below its level, thus
leaving Wairoa river bed dry and
choked with sand. 1t is impossible to
describe the desolation of the Tikitapu
bush. The storm had swept up the
valley, tearing up trees six feet in glrth
by the roots, swapping off giant-like
limbs as if they were twigs, and leay-
ing track on the fOrest.coyered ranges
as if q tornado or cyclone had swept
ever them. passed through the lower
valley, on behalf Of the Hcraid, only
TWO or three months previously on
trip to the lakes. | could therefore
appreciate the contrast, and the awful
picture Of desolation which met my
gaze on reaching the Wairoa bridge, and
hope never to witness it again. 1t
seemed as if another Sodom and Go
morrah had arisen. Along the road
were portions of personal effects thrown
away by the refugees in their flight.
Overhead starved birds were flying help
lessly looking for shelter, while an aged
Maori sat by the roadside, too weak to
90 on through lack Of food. Some
biscuits were given to him by our party,
and it was found necessary even to
bring out water to Wairoa, as the wells
had been filled up. | utterly failed to
recall the features of the recent settle
ment. A fall OF volcanic mud covered
all at Wairoa. The branches OF tall
trees on the bank Of the river showed
their tops oil, and in places the fences
stood, bat in most cases all was leyelled
to the ground.
A party was organized to endeavor
to see where the eruption was, and to
ascertain the fate of the White and
Pink Terraces. From Kiteriria we had
march Of about seven miles. got
up to the place where we intended to
camp just about dusk. Our camp was
to be at the side Of q piece Of bush,
any | walked on some distance further
to get view from an advantageous
ridge. A most singular and curious
spectacle met my eyes. For miles the
whole country was covered with de-
post, which, in the fading sunlight and
the Strengthening moonlight, looked as
white as snow. This was the district
between the Pink Terrace and kakara-
nea mountain. 1t looked like an arctic
scene, and as We stood on the ridge of
the hill it seemed as if we were the first
explorers. There were apparently the
hummocks Of ice and mountains covered
with snow. All this was fine white
deposit which had issued on that fatal
night from the new craters. Quite
near the spot where we stood was one
of these craters. There had been an
innocent green hill which had burst out
into fearful volcano. A large part of
the hill had fallen in, and there was
crater much larger than that Of Mount
Eden. A constant column OF steam
rose from the mighty caldron. At in
terysls there issued great showers Of
cinders and huge rocks driven far into
the air. A beautiful and grand sight
was witnessed on returning to this
place. There was a continual roar,
varied at intervals with loud boom.
The next morning dawned fine for our
purpose, the wind being still from
the south. The air was clear
and a delightfully."- cool wind blew.
Our first course was toward the
volcano we had seen on the previous
evening. We struggled more than knee
deep through the fine dust for two or
three miles; then we passed over fields
Of pebbles and stones Of all sizes, a
large expanse dry. Others had received
great splashes of water from the yolca-
no. We got IS near as possible to the
first volcano we had seen. We named
it 1.-The Black Crater" not having
with us any native who knew the origi-
nal name. The Black Crater spouts up
in two pisces. When we were there,
or as close as we thought it prudent or
possible to 60, with the time at our dis
posal, it was sending up from one place
huge boulders, and from the other col