A handwritten letter in black ink on lined pages of a notebook. Four sheets of paper two of which are joined together along proper right edge. Writing on both sides of paper except on page four where reverse is blank. On page one top proper right 'Henry Clarke aft of eruption of 1886 from the spot', handwriting which appears to be different from the rest and may have been added at a later date. The letter reads -

Rotorua June 12th 1886
My dear Mary,
Very many thanks for your note just received and your sympathy for me under the most trying circumstances. If I were to live in this world for a thousand years I could never forget the morning of the 10th Instan -. I was awoke at 2-o'clock by an earthquake. I waited for quarter of an hour and finding the earth still trembled and shook - the house creaking in every joint - I felt sure something unusual was about to occur. I lit my candle and while dressing I heard a fearful explosion - my first thought was that there was a burst at Sulphur Point - when I come into the passage I was met by several anxious females in their night dresses who were eager to know what was the matter. I tried to calm them and begged them on no account to go out of doors knowing how dangerous it was in cases of severe earthquake. When I got onto the Verandah I found the whole village astir. When outside I instinctively turned towards Tarawera and Rotomahana. I knew directly what had occurred. Mr Dickson and myself with several others walked up the Pukeroa Hill just at the back of the Hotel and what an awful sight met our vision. A dense black cloud apparently enveloped the Tarawera Mountain on the East side of the lake of that name and after watching for a few moments the cloud was rent and we saw and felt a terrific explosion. The lava and red hot stones were shot high in the air and rolled down the side of the Mountain. This was repeated at intervals. I should have stated before that it was a bright starlight night before the first great explosion but the dense black cloud gradually spread over the bearers except to south and south west. Even this bright spot was gradually covered just before daylight or when daylight should have been apparent. About four o'clock the ashes began to fall, providentially for Ohinemutu a strong breeze from the South sprang up (It was calm before) and drove the precipitate ash and mud fall to the eastward of us. The thunder and lightning in every form, forked, chain and sheet, was most appalling. It was almost incessant for twelve hours but without rain, intensely cold, the darkness was 'darkness to be felt'. At twelve o'clock (noon) I was compelled to write by lamp light. I cannot describe the terror of the poor women and children, and the poor natives, how they seemed to cling to me for comfort and assurance but it was a hard struggle to maintain a calm exterior. I will not say anything of what was working within, but I believe I succeeded in quieting many in out house, the natives begged me to hold a service in their church. I did so. I am sorry to say some of our men of whom I expected better things were selfish and unmanly enough to run away without any thought of the helpless ones they left behind. As one must expect, this terrible visitation has been attended with great loss of life and destruction of property. The Wairoa village is buried, all the houses covered with five and six feet of mud. Mr Hazard and four of his children crushed under the ruins of his house. Mrs Hazard was rescued much injured. The two eldest daughters were rescued before the house fell, by the persevering and courageous efforts of a man belonging to a survey party who happened to be sleeping there that night. All honour to him, he is a man at any rate. Most of the natives escaped, some few men were smothered in the mud, others were rescued afterwards. There were many miraculous escapes. The pretty little forest at Tikitapu ceases to exist. The little blue lake is now milky white. The Wairoa Valley with it's stream of that name is cover with an even layer of mud in it's whole length about six feet thick. The old mission house entirely disappeared as well as every house in the settlement. I grieve to say that there were a considerable number of natives at the Ariki and Moura as well as Waitangi numbering as far as we can ascertain between fifty and sixty have undoubtedly perished. I see no way of escape. The scene of the eruption as far as we can make out (for we can see nothing from here through the impenetrable blackness) is very extensive, at least twelve miles by five. The whole of the lower Kaingaroa Plain is in action including the Tarawera range of mountains the greater part of which disappeared. A party of gentlemen have gone today to see if it is possible to ascertain the extent of the mischief to Rotomahana. My belief is from what I understood yesterday from the top of Ngongotaha that it is a thing of the past.

I hope to adjourn my court on Monday or Tuesday at latest. I do not think I shall be able to go home to Tauranga much as I would like to spend a few days with you. I am anxious to get home to my children. My nerves have been strung to their utmost tension for the past few days and I shall be glad of some relaxation.

My love to Sam and those of your children who are with you. I have written a long account of this terrible visitation for the benefit of those at home but as it was written at a time of great excitement I do not care to send it to you.

I have written this in great hast but I think I have given you a faithful account although perhaps disjointed in some respects, I know it will interest you all as coming directly from myself.

I forgot to say that providentially Mrs Way was at Maketu with her family. Good old Mary was left in charge and bravely did she stick to it to the last.

Gold help you all and may he preserve us from all peril.

I am my dear Mary your affectionate brother,

Henry Clarke