TONGARIRO AND NGAURUHOE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 106, 7 May 1896, Page 5

TONGARIRO AND NGAURUHOE.

AiSCENT BY MR PERCY SMITH

CHANGES IN TBE MOUNTAINS.

Oc.R Taupo correspondent writes: —"The Soa-veyor-General, Mr Smith, and the District Chief Surveyor, in company with Mr Cussen, the well-known surveyor of the native country, have been finally arranging matbers concerning the Tokaanu township; they have also been making the ascent of the mountaina accompanied by an English gentleman. Upon reaching the summit of Tongariro, ib wae found that one of the •juany pretty lakes which adorn the top of that mountain, had disappeared. Then, ugatn, upon scaling to the top of the active NJgauruhoe, ib was evident bhab here a change had taken place also, for the trig station was found to bo some ton or twelve feet nearer the crater, or in other words the cone is gradually slipping into the yawning abyss, out of which steam continues to come as also occasionally ashes. A detailed report from such an observer as Mr Cussen would be very interesting. Ruapßhu was also visited. Here it was found that very little snow remained compared to what is usually there, bub a few days later told a different tale. Last Friday and Saturday week we had some ** heavy " weather, with the result of covering P„uapebu, also Ngauruboe. which had previously been quite bare, Tongariro also gob a small coabing, and the Kaimanawa Ranges were also prettily tipped, and on the Sunday morning with the shining sun the sight was magnificent truly.

THE NATIVE PARLIAMENT

The native parliament at Tokaanu is still going on, although ib is rumoured that very si»on it will prorogue, probably on account ot tho weather getting too severe for the visitors, who have to camp out, and with tho glaas between 30 and 40 at night the cawvas is .rather uncongenial.

NEW GEYSER AT WAIRAKRI

A new geyser has broken out on the Wairakei estate, but inßtead of boing clear water and steam as usual, ib is a mud geysar. Ib is situated almosb in a direct line between the Greab Wairakei and Karapita.

THE BISHOP OF WAIAPU,

The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu is visiting this parti of his diocese. He went on to Tokaanu and upon his return goes on to Rotorua and Tauranga, probably from thence to Opobiki, returning to Napier overland by way of Taupo.