NGAURUHOE IN ERUPTION

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 111, 4 February 1935, Page 8

NGAURUHOE IN ERUPTION

Column of Smoke Sent Up 4000 Feet ALL RANGE MORE ACTIVE THAN FOR MANY YEARS Preceded by a terrific thunderstorm with forked lightning over the mountains Ngauruhoe began to erupt shortly after’ 2.30 on Saturday afternoon, according to telephone advice from Mr. R Cobbe, manager of the Chateau Tongariro. Mr. Cobbe stated that Ngauruhoe shot up a column of smoke to a height of 4000 feet, and appeared to be becoming more active every minute. Tongariro was alsd active. The eruption continued throughout the afternoon, and at dusk on Saturday night a remarkable manifestation was displayed on Ruapehu, where dense clouds of steam were seen rising from the lake on the mountain top, Ngauruhoe was playing to a height of two thousand feet, and the Ketetahi hotspring on Tongariro was also displaying marked signs of activity. “This is the first time in four years that the three mountains have shown such pronounced activity at the same period,” said Mr. Cobbe. “The eruption of Ngauruhoe, reaching a height of four thousand feet, was not so high as occurred four weeks ago, but since December ninth, the whole range has shown more activity than for many years.” Misty rain fell over the mountains all yesterday, and Mr. Cobbe said last night that he had seen nothing all day, although he believed the eruption was continuing. If the weather cleared on Monday a party, including some of the visitors, would make the ascent of Ngauruhoe to investigate. No shocks were experienced at the Chateau on this occasion.