VOLCANO ACTIVITY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 200, 24 August 1945, Page 6

VOLCANO ACTIVITY

REPORTS DEPRECATED

"NO CAUSE FOR ALARM" O.C. WANGANUI, this day. "Those who are closest to the place are not unduly alarmed, and there are definitely no plans for the evacuation of the patients," said the medical superintendent of the Chateau Tongariro, Dr. G. H. McLachlan. "Much unnecessary alarm has been caused to relatives of patients by some of the reports about the seriousness of the volcanic activity from Ruapehu and there has been much misinformed talk," Dr. McLachlan added. "For instance, there have been reports of brilliant flashes of light over the mountain, which are described as flames. They are simply the result of myria.ds of particles of volcanic dust clashing in the atmosphere and discharging electricity after their release under tremendous pressure from the bowels of the earth. The flashes of light seen are actually a form of atomic energy expending itself."

Messrs. Fyfe, Beck, Jenkins and Woods, of the Field Division of the Geological Survey Department, had been staying at the Chateau for about three weeks and had been closely observing the activity of the mountain. They were satisfied that there was no cause for alarm.

The director of Geological Survey, Mr. M. Ongley, arrived at tfie Chateau yesterday. Patients Remain Calm The patients are quite calm and there is no alarm. An official at the Chateau stated that the patients are sitting about watching the mountain, and if they see anything which strikes them as unusual they call out to the staff to come and have a look. The thick coating of dust in Wanganui is only what Ohakune. Raetihi, and the Chateau have had for some days. In the Waimarmo district, dust and ash on the pastures and market gardens may create problems affecting stock, and spoil both grass and vegetables. An Ohakune resident this morning stated that a frost there to-day cleared enough ash for the stock to get a nibble, but that yesterday the animals were unable to touch the grass. Another aspect of the ash and sulphur deposits, which are now lying thick in the Waimarino district, is that supplies of tank water are becoming polluted.