THE SUNDAY ISLAND WATERSPOUT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3194, 13 April 1911, Page 3

THE SUNDAY ISLAND WATERSPOUT.

RESIDENTS'’ TERRIBLE ENTER]-

ENGES.

[.SPECIAL TO TIMES.J AUCKLAND, April 12. The training ship Amokura has returned from the Kermadec Islands, having performed fclie annual cruise round the group for the purpose of searching-for castaways-and inspecting the depots placed in that locality for the 'benefit of shipwrecked l manners. The vessel brought from Sunday Island Mrs and Miss Bell, and Messrs R. and K. Bell, also Mr. J. Clarke, who had visited the islands with a view to purchase them. Therefore theye are uow uninhabited. Mrs Bell, who, with her two sons, has been- living on the island for the cast six years, experienced l a most trying period since hist April, at which time disaster befell them and practically the whole of their plantations, crops and houses were demolished by a heavy waterspout which occurred very suddenly and without warning just after dark. The first intimation of anything unusual about to happen was a dense darkness all round the homestead, the sky being black as ink. The first discharge from the waterspout was accompanied by, a few gnsts of wind and several vivid flashes of lightning. The downpour increased to such proportions that it very soon flowed through the houses.. The unfortunate inhabitants managed to find their way to higher ground with difficulty owing to the large amount of water under foot and the dense blackness of the night. After a. most trying time they managed to find a place of refiige and spent a very anxious night amidst, the' sounds of rushing flood l waters and the thunderous noises created by the huge landslips caused bv the fall of such a heavy volume of water. On the following morning they ventured from their places of refuge, only to find, that they had been rendered practically homeless and foodless. On the day following that on which the disaster occurred the in'hapritants, having witnessed the fruits of their labours for the past six years demolished in a few hours, decided to return to New Zealand at the first opportunity, which dirt not occur until 12 months later; in fact, on the anniversary of the disaster, when,the Amokura arirved there. The ship remained at Sunday Island for two days to enable the Bells to embark. On visiting the various parts of the island it was found . that the locality of the homestead had not been the only part affected, as it was discovered that several slips of land had taken place, and in one case, where there had formerly been a well-grassed valley, there now appeared a layer of stone and pumice.