VIEW OF RUAPEHU

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 259, 1 October 1945, Page 4

VIEW OF RUAPEHU

CONTINUED ACTIVITY.

Rising hundreds of feet from the snow-covered tip of Mt. Ruapehu, a thick column of smoke this morning testified to the activity still going on in the mountain. The smoke, which was drifting in a northerly direction, was plainly seen from Palmerston North, the atmospheric conditions between the city and the mountain being very clear. A similar good view of the mountain was obtainable yesterday.

Mr A. C. iJeek. of the Geological Survey, who is observing at Mt. Ruapehu, 'in a telegram received in Wellington says that the activity was very strong on Thursday. Mr T ieck also stated that an earthquake iolt had been felt at about 7.20 a.m. The shock was recorded at the Dominion Laboratory in Wellington at 7.17 a.m. It was a very deep-seated one, the estimate being that it occurred at least 20 miles below the mountain. The earthquake, it is stated by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, was not believed to have had any association with an explosion within the crater. Dr. McLouglin. medical officer in charge of the mental hospital at Chateau Tongariro. who lias observed conditions on the mountain very carefully for some time past, in a report to the department says that the crater has been pulsating considerably. On Qjie occasion there was a rise and fall of at least 15ft. In view of any possible developments, an investigation of the whole thermal district has been carried * out by an officer of the department, and little change, except in the neighbourhood of Tarawera, has been observed. As Ruapehu and Rotorua are on the rift connecting with White Island, it was thought that there might be greater activity. While at Chateau Tongariro he saw about three-quarters of an inch of ash fall from Mt. Ruapehu. While a southerly wind was blowing off the mountain half an inch was observed to fall within half an hour. However, it did no harm. The golf course is still reported to be green.