ERUPTIONS OF MUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20797, 13 February 1931, Page 14

ERUPTIONS OF MUD.

OVERFLOW INTO CREEK BED. INFLAMMABLE GAS ESCAPES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] GISBORNE, Thursday. Once again the Waimata Valley has been the scene of an extensive eruption of mud from the site of the old springs on Mr. Victor Savage's property. The earthquake has caused renewed activity where only last year thousands of tons of semi-liquid mud were forced above the ground level. The mpd overflowed into a creek bed a quarter of a mile from the actual outburst. The level of the crater has been raised many feet, while down the glacier-like overflow into the creek bed an enormous volume of mud is spread. The creek bed is blocked, and, although there is very little water draining into the creek at present, a small lake has formed above the overflow.

All round tho site of the outburst, the hillsides are scored with slips and deep clefts ruu in all directions, in some places presenting the appearance of ploughed land, so regularly have the fissures been reproduced.

In addition to the activity on the site of last year's eruption, fresh vents have been made by tho imprisoned gases and these now find escape at various points on Mr. Savage's property, and on the adjoining land, occupied by Mr. J. J. Rogers. Water and mud are bubbling up to the surface with tho gas, and those who have visited the site and have made tho experiment of applying lights to the gas have had ample evidence that it is inflammable.