AMBRYN VOLCANO.

Northern Advocate, 18 May 1914, Page 3

AMBRYN VOLCANO.

PRACTICALLY SUBSIDED

CHANGES AT THE HOSPITAL SITE.

According to the passengers who arrived at Sydney by the steamer Pacifique last week from the New Hebrides, the Ambryn Island volcano is still active, but now in a less violent form than was the cas e when the last reports came to hand. The smoke, which was reported a few weeks ago to be hanging over the island fora distanc e of 200 miles along the coastlines, has now practically clteared. away, and it appears that the crater has quite ceased violent eruption.

From the statements made to a. "Daily Telegraph " representative by Mr R. F. Courtais, a French cleric, the most noticeable changes in the original aspect of the island are to be seen where the hospital once stood (with its church), Dr Bowie's house and its beautiful gardens, and many other prominent land marks. ■■ ■• This new centre of civilisation, which a few weeks ago was a mountain of ashes 5000 ft. high, has been further transformed by the appearance of an active crater which runs right level to the water's edge. Out in the bay the water, was said to be very hot, so much so tfiat it was considered unsafe for a boat to venture on its surface.

Numbers of visitors have made their way to the spot where the hospital once stood. The scene, with the smoking mountain as a background, and the desolatio wrought by falling stones, lava, and sand, is described as inexpressibly weird.

The natives have now quite recovered from the first shock, an* practic.ally the whole of those who abandoned the island •at th e first eruption have now returned, mostly to their old habitation.