NGAURUHOE EASES UP AFTER BELCHING ROCKS 2000 FEET

Grey River Argus, 16 February 1949, Page 5

NGAURUHOE EASES UP AFTER BELCHING ROCKS 2000 FEET

AUCKLAND, Feb. 15 Two terrific explosions at 4.30 and 8.45 this morning followed last night’s sensational outburst by Mount Ngauruhoe, when white hot rocks, hurled an estimated 2000 ft into the air, and fell down the mountainside m showers.

“It was a terrific display, the loudest explosion I have .vet heard.” said the acting manager of the Chateau, Mr A. G. Hill, to-day, referring to last night’s upheaval. Steam seen rising from the northwest side of the mountain led to the belief that there had been a further lava flow, he added. The mountain was dormant this morning, he said. There was no smoke or noise, but in view of Ngauruhoe’s unpredictable activity guests were staying on at the Chateau in the hope of seeing further eruptions.

After a quiet day during which the activity of Mount Ngauruhoe was indicated only by a plume of smoke drifting from its summit, the volcano burst forth with renewed vigour last night. Guests at the Chateau Tongariro heard a- loud explosion from Ngauruhoe about 8 o’clock. They hurried outside to see glowing rocks hurled 400 or 500 feet in the air from the crater and the red glow of the vent showing distinctly again. Mr Hill said that Ngauruhoe’s activity was not as great as that of last week. However, the mountain was firing shot after shot, and although the display was not as impressive as that seen earlier, it was still considerable. Mr Hill added that the lava flow appeared to have cooled and was not showing red’ last night, although earlier when the mountain was free from cloud and clearly visible, steam could be seen rising from the lava. RUMBLINGS HEARD IN HAWKE’S BAY HASTINGS, Feb. 15 Rumblings underground have been heard by a number of people in Haveiock North during the past few days. The phenomenon has been noted also in the Mangatahi and Kereru districts. The noises are variously attributed to earth movements, passing heavy vehicles, thunder explosions and repercussions of the Ngauruhoe activities. Some residents report the occurrence of noises at fairly regular intervals. varying in intensity. The most likely explanation appears to be that the rumblings are caused by minor subterranean subsidences associated with the known earth fault line running through the Tukituki valley, extending to the cliffs near Cape Kidnappers. These underground subsidences, it is claimed. would not be sufficient to cause an earth tremor, except in the immediate locality, though they are likely to cause rumblings. It‘is recalled that before the 1931 earthquake deep rumblings under ground were reported to have been heard in several parts of the district and also about four years ago when Ruapehu was erupting.

NO CAUSE FOR ALARM The ground noises and rumblings reported from Hawke’s Bay are probably what are known as brontidi. They may or may not be accompanied by earth tremors, and have ween commonly heard in the past in other localities in New Zealand, said Mr H. E. Fyfe, of the Geological Survey Office, to-day. On the other hand,, under favourable atmospheric conditions, any noise accompanying the activity of Mount could be heard many miles away from the mountain, he said. These noises should cause no apprehension on the part of those who might hear them, for they were commonly associated with such normal outbursts as the present activity of Nguaruhoe. .