Recent Earthquake in New Zealand.
By Sel.
FURTHER details of the earthquakes in New Zealand state that the most violent disturbances were felt in the neighborhood of Rotona. The severity of the shocks led many of the people to believe that the island would sink into the sea. The sensation experienced is said to have been fearful beyond description. Immediately after the first shock the inhabitants rushed frantically in all directions. When the second shock came the entire country for miles around was lit up by the glare of the volcano, which had suddenly burst into activity. The scene was as grand as it was awful. Huge volumes of smoke illuminated with flame simultaneously burst forth from a range of mountains over sixty miles in length, and above the smoke could be seen huge masses of fire resembling meteors rushing through the sky. The natives who had escaped death gathered in groups, and, filled with abject terror, held religious services, but when another shock would cause the earth to tremble, they would fall with their faces to the ground, quivering with fear. As soon as the news of the fearful occurrence was received at Auckland, a Government agent made immediate preparations to go to the relief of the sufferers. Wagons were chartered and filled with provisions and clothes. Mr. Johnson, the Government agent, on his arrival at Rotona, sent back the following account: “The scene among the mountains as viewed from the Wairoa road is terribly grand. Flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, and shocks of earthquake are incessant, while dust is falling in heavy showers. In addition to these inconveniences, the roads throughout the entire country are covered with several feet of blue clay mud ejected from the volcanoes. All vegetation is destroyed, and the aspect of the country is entirely changed. Blue Lake and Lake Rotakokahi have been transformed into mud baths. The outlet of the latter lake is blocked up and541the bridges which cross the lower end are covered with mud. “Nearly all the buildings that I have noticed are crushed in with fallen mud. At this place Snow’s Temperance Hall and the two principal hotels, and nearly all the other buildings in the town, are completely wrecked. The house occupied by Mrs. Hazard and her family was borne down by the weight of the debris. Mrs. Hazard was dug out alive, but four of her children were found dead. Mr. Hazard is missing. Detailed reports of the foreign residents at other points who were killed have not yet been received.” The captain of the steamship Southern Cross, which arrived at Auckland on June 18, reports having felt at sea the effect of the disturbances. On the morning of June 10, the day following the earthquakes, his vessel was in a shower of dust. From 5 to 10 A. M. there was complete darkness, and balls of fire were continually playing around the mastheads. A gale suddenly sprang up and carried all his canvas away. The men were unable to stand the blinding showers of dust, and the vessel was put about and stood away to the north, but it was not until 11 o’clock of the following day that the dust was left behind. The reports show that earthquakes generally prevailed at all points in New Zealand during the same period.—Sel.