12 



which place the Maori Pah suddenly subsided fourteen miles; 

 the mud extending further than the dust, covering an extent 

 of country for an average length of from fifteen to twenty 

 miles by seven miles, the depth varying with proximity to 

 eruption and direction of wind. At Wairoa, six miles from 

 Volcano, Macrae's Hotel was wrecked, the roof falling in by 

 weight of mud and volcanic earth ; Mr. Hazard, thre-e of his 

 children, and a nephew killed, and a tourist, Mr. Bambridge, 

 was killed by the fall of the hotel verandah. Along the bed 

 of the creek carrying the overflow of the Okaro lake into 

 Rotomahana, there were four new craters similar to another 

 of 400 feet in length in active eruption and throwing up 

 scoria. The height of the hill before the eruption was 400 

 feet, but afterwards it increased to 550 feet or upwards, and 

 that occurred in two days. 



There was terrible destruction of property and human 

 life, principally of Maories, over 100 in number, the country 

 is devastated, and water supply destroyed by the ashes and 

 sulphurous mud, causing great suffering to cattle and wild 

 animals; even rats, &c., being found dead in multitudes ; 

 but it is hoped that the Volcanic cutritus will be favourable 

 to vegetation. 



Tongariro, 7,800 feet in height, is an active but inter- 

 mittent volcano, generally throwing up hot mud, and with 

 hot springs round crater, it is about 80 miles from seat of 

 eruption. Ruapepu is another volcano now quiescent, about 

 10 miles from Tongariro, and further distant not a vestige 

 of the Terraces now remains. They are replaced by large 

 fumaroles throwing up mud and steam. The country round 

 Rotomahana is sHpping down into the lake, the seven 

 volcanoes eating out the bottom of the lake. At the Devil's 

 Chaldron a geyser now ejects a column of mud 600 feet in 

 height. Miss Gordon Gumming writes : " Everywhere there 

 is a deafening noise, sulphurous stench, and indescribable 

 horror." I am indebted for much of the material of above 

 account to the description of some of the exploring party 



