The Recent Volcanic Eruption in Neiv Zealand. 399 



had the celebrated hot bath of Ohinemutu suffered. On the opposite 

 side of Lake Rotorua, however, the mud-hole of Tikitere, noted for 

 its vio]ent spouting and smell, had broken out. 



It appears from later accounts that this volcanic outbreak com- 

 menced at Euawhia, one of the three peaks into which the cone-like 

 Tarawera is split. This volcano stands on the southern shore of the 

 lake of the same name, and is about 2000 feet high ; but no tradition 

 of its ever having been active before exists amongst the Maoris. 

 Indeed, it had been used by them for centuries as a place of sepulchre, 

 somewhat after the manner of the Parsees and their " Towers of 

 Silence." At the early stage of the eruption it was found that three 

 large craters had developed themselves on Mount Tarawera, whilst 

 a fourth was afterwards ascertained to have opened on the flank 

 towards Lake Kotomahana. From these were belched forth flames 

 and large quantities of stones, ash-dust, and clouds of smoke, which 

 passed over the country both in a northerly, north-easterly, and 

 southerly direction. 



It was, however, at the Township of Wairoa on Lake Tarawera, 

 midway between Kotorua and Mount Tarawera, that the greatest 

 devastation took place and injury to life and property. Violent 

 earth tremors were experienced between 1 and 2 a.m., accompanied 

 by showers of ash-dust, and followed by that of stones and volcanic 

 mud, which ultimately buried the whole place to the depth of ten 

 feet. The houses were demolished, both those of Europeans and 

 Maoris, and many persons killed, including Mr. C. A. Hazzard, the 

 resident schoolmaster, and members of his family. Had it not been 

 for the great intrepidity of Mr. McRae, proprietor of the Eotomahana 

 Hotel, which was also destroyed, a further loss of life would have 

 doubtless taken place. The pretty Tikitapu bush between Wairoa 

 and Rotorua was completely destroyed, and the ground covered to a 

 depth of three feet with dust; trees of 170 feet in height uprooted, 

 and forming in places tangled masses ten feet thick. All under- 

 growth was swept away by the accompanying storm, and vegetation 

 destroyed. The waters of the Tikitapu and Eotokakahi Lakes, 

 celebrated for their blue and green colours, were changed to a dirty 

 brown tint, and the outlet of the latter to the larger lake Tarawera 

 was blocked, and its course altered. 



The explosions which took place during the eruption of Mount 

 Tarawera were plainly heard in Auckland, 180 miles to the north, 

 and also at Te Aroha. Earthquakes were experienced at Tauranga, 

 Maketu, and Opotiki, on the shores of the Bay of Plenty, and dust 

 showers took place at each. At Cambridge and Hamilton, north- 

 west of the more acutely disturbed district, and between it and 

 Auckland, reports of heavy explosions were heard, and the windows 

 shaken ; and much the same phenomena were observed at Coro- 

 mandel. Even at such distant places as Dunedin and Christchurch, 

 in the South Island, electrical disturbances were manifested, believed 

 to be traceable to this volcanic outbreak. 



On June 13th matters had calmed sufficiently to allow exploration 

 and relief parties to proceed beyond Wairoa, and ascertain the con- 



