RUAPEHU ACTIVE.

North Otago Times, 2 December 1910, Page 1

RUAPEHU ACTIVE.

* Per Press Association, Auckland, Nov, 30. NeiPfl comes from Wairau indicating further activity in the' great volcanic mountains there, but .this time it is Ruapehu, not Ngauruhoc, that is reported to foe showing signs of energy. The recent performance of Ngauruhoe have tended to concentrate' all attention upon that sharp smoking, cone, but the latest news indicates that its massive manypeaked neigttor is also capable of more activity than has been suspected; On Sunday, when the thunderstorm and rain fell here, heavy rain clouds also obscured the two great mountains, On Monday the clouds on Ruapehu's sujmmit lifted, and it wias seeni from Waiouru that a I dirty discoloration had overspread thy snow on the upper eastern slope. This dark pall upon the white snow mantle must he, it is) assumed, ejected material, and it could uot have been thrown from Ngauruhoe, because- the wind has not been blowing in a direction that would carry Ngauruhoe's ejects to Ruapehu. The discoloration seen on Monday woutd probably have 'been greater had not muoh of the material, whioh is apparently dark • ash or sand, tan washed away by the rains. A drover reports a more marked discoloration of the snow on- Ruapehu as viewed from the 10-milo peg, The peak, which is discolored, is estimated to be 500 ft above the .level of the lake in the old crater on Ruapehu. If, as is 'assumed, the eject came from the crater lake, the shot must therefore have heen a .powerful one.