VOLCANO STILL ERUPTING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27369, 7 June 1954, Page 8

VOLCANO STILL ERUPTING

Violent Explosions From Ngauruhoe

CLOUD OBSCURES MOUNTAIN

(New Zealand Press Association) - • . AUCKLAND, June 6. Mount Ngauruhoe is now entering the violent and noisy stage in its eruptive cycle. Since Saturday afternoon, when, the lava flow diminished, shattering and irregularly-spaced explosions have marked the volcano’s activity. Except for brief periods, cloud has obscured the mountain during the week-end, And the results of explosions have not been observed. For short periods tonight, • red-hot rocks could be seen cascading from the vent. Most of them fell back into the crater. Mr J. A: Healy, Government Vulcanplogist at Rotorua, said tonight that the volcano had not attained the vio-

lence which was the sequel to the lava flow in the 1949 eruption. It was likely the - explosions would be of greater duration, and ash eruptions could be expected. It would be a more spectacular phase, but of less moment geologicalty. On Saturday afternoon, Mr Healy climbed to the base of the lava flow on the north-western slope. He found that the flow had obliterated the 1949 flow, except for about 300 yards. At the time, glowing rocks were being ejected at regular intervals, and it was only by climbing along the ridges that Mr Healy could reach the lava in safety. Rocks passed down the depression on either side of him. Geophysical Recordings Equipment has been installed at the Tauwera fire look-out, only five miles from the volcano, to record and measure electrical currents passing through the earth. The work was completed only a week ago, and, according to Mr F. E. Studt, geophysicist, in charge at Rotorua,.some unusual re-’ edrdings are being made. Normally, earth currents travel in a north-south direction, but recordings already obtained show that the currents in the area flow in an east-west direction.

It was too early to assess the results, said Mr Studt. It wag nurely in the research stage, but it might be possible to build up results from which volcanic activity could be predicted. The Chateau Tongariro shook today as explosions occurred in Ngauruhoe. Smoke and steam, rising to a height estimated at 3000 feet, could be seen for many miles. The volcano gave evidence of renewed activity early this morning. About 5 a.m., there was a loud explosion, and the Chateau shook. The vibration continued as explosion seemed to follow explosion. This aottyity occurred at intervals during the day. The heaviest explosion of all was at 11 a.m.