RUAPEHU ACTIVE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 26 June 1945, Page 4

RUAPEHU ACTIVE

HUGE LAVA ISLAND IN CRATER FLAMES 30 FEET HIGH Wellington, This Day. With the growth of a small islet to a heaving, molten mass of lava occupying nearly three-quarters of the surface of the crater lake, Ruapehu has broken out into even more violent eruption than earlier in the year. Sincb the spectacular outburst on May 14, when flames shot up 300 feet out of the crater, activity had been confined to periodical displays of steaming, but last week renewed rumblings and dense black smoke pouting away from the summit heralded a third Mr. A. Manson. a Chateau guide, who climbed to the crater on Sunday, found that only a 'quarter of the former lake remained and that there was a huge island of volcanic rock about five fee! high. The putajde of the island appeared to be solid, buT*wiw centre*was sliAking;' Tike a jelly and. period kill ly'-JO earn' pressure beneath would lift fl.great lid of viscid lava aside and" dense': black aud. steojja would issue with a. roar, When .this occurred every few minutes flames leaped 30 feet out of the vent. The vent remained in no fixed position and steam was discharged wherever the covering lava was weakest at the time. At each burst a mass of molten, light-red rock rolled away from the orifice and spread over the island. A continuous shower of rocks ejected by the steam column hurtled over 300 feet into the air and fell hack on to the island. In this way the island was slowly growing. What water remained in the lake was discoloured black and steaming violently. A huge cloud rose from the crater for over fiOOO feet and streamed away southward. Mr. Manson said the level of water in the lake had been lowered several feet, exposing a narrow rock shelf round the edge. When lie had visited the crater dtjrtng King’s Birthday weekend the only sign of the present large island was a circular reef in the same position n*» the island’s outer edge. Since then the whole area enclosed by the reef had been built up. The island was on the southern side of the lake. A good deal of rumblng was audible at the Chateau on Sunday hut yesterday there was no noise and bad weather obscured the mountain.