NGAURUHOE'S ACTIVITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19888, 6 March 1928, Page 8

NGAURUHOE'S ACTIVITY.

MANY EXPLOSIONS OCCUR. •. ■. « . - ' '' ". ; - ■ • v:'.-;; : ' : . J Iff SHOTS EJECT BOULDERS. CONTINUOUS RUMBLE HEARD. , • AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER. ] NATIONAL PARK. Monday. Ngaurahoa is increasingly active. Already (here have been & number of explosions that have ejected rocks and ash on the northern slopes, and to-day the rumble wa3 almost continuous for six hours. The sound swelled and sank at Whakapapa resembling the roar of heavy breakers on a rocky shore. At times, how. ever, it is like the roar of a vast avalanche.

Messrs. R. Cliff and L. Duffin, of the National Park village on the railway, had a thrilling experience yesterday morning. They went to the Mangatepopo Hnt beneath Ngauruhoe. Although the volcano was rumbling they set put to climb it. They had not gone more than a few hundred yards whevx the first shot took place, ejecting boulders that rolled down the north slope. They promptly retreated to a place of comparative safety, where half-an-hour later they saw the second and greatest outburst. The noise was terrific and the earth trembled. Rocks were hurled high into the air and for ten minutes w«re hurtling down the slopes. Many were shattered to fragments. Some that reached the low level were estimated to weigh two or three hundredweight. Several parties were on Ruapehu at the time and Mr. Maliony, of Ohaknne, reports that following the mighty explosion a slight wave went across the crater lake. The breeze was toward Whakapapa at the time and there half-an-bour later volcanic ash fell. Rocks Eaiss Smoke and Bust.

Throughout Sunday afternoon the volsano rumbled spasmodically and occasionally belched white and black clouds. After sunset, however, two heavy shots took place, e.ich dropping heavy matter on the north slope and from Whakapapa the course of the descending rocks could be followed on the skyline by the dust or smoke they raised. i During the night there were no explosions, but the rumble was more or less continuous and owing to thfe clouds it was impossible to see any glare. During the eruptions of two years ago a glow was seen above the crater on clear nights and its lip was often red with hot matter kept in suspension at the brink. Big Blast Fails to Come. At six o'clock this morning a heavy shot shook the buildings at Whakapapa Hats. The volcano was enveloped in clouds at the time and it was not possible to see if rocks were ejected. At mid-day a Kerai.d representative was near the base of the mountain in the Tama Lake area. There the noise was full-throated. It seemed as if the -whole earth was charged with life and the violent voice from above rising and falling without pause seemed to have its origin in the very heart of the earth. It was a grey day with f the lightest of rain coming frpm the southeast, but for two hours the mountain was clear and from moment to moment one lived on the tiptoe of expectancy. But the big shock did not come. The volcano glowled, rumbled, roarod and occasionally boomed with terrific pressure, but the culminating blast did not follow.

A Sudden Silence. At one o'clock there was sudden silence and not till then did one realise how dominating the noise had been. The hush almost hurt. After ten minutes it was broken by a that rose and rose to the V6ry point when one expected to hear the crash of a vast blast, but again it turned down the scale without making an eruption. Soon after clouds enveloped the crest and throughout the afternoon the whole mountain was obliterated and only occasional rumbles were hoard, but doubtless the fog and rain are muffling the sound. % It is the habit, of the mountain to intensify its activity toward dark and to burst into violent life after a lull. A deposit of grey ash covers the highest portions of the north slope. Most of the patches of snow on that side have disappeared. The remaining are grey with volcanic ash. A few weeks ago a Christchurch geologist descended Ngauruhce's crater alone to, take bearing 3 and make observations. He remarked at the time its possibilities y for much activity.