RUAPEHU ACTIVITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25160, 24 March 1945, Page 6

RUAPEHU ACTIVITY

REPORT FROM WAIOURU FRESH OUTBREAK POSSIBLE Reports from Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel stationed at Waiouru camp that a substance like lava appeared to flow from the crater of Mount Rtiapehu sliortly before dawn yesterday could not be confirmed by inquiries made at the Chateau last night, as thick cloud had shrouded the summit all day and no one had made the ascent. Patients at the Chateau, which is now in use as a temporary mental hospital, awoke the attendants about 1 a.m. yesterday to watch a fierce red glow in the sky above the crater, but the display lasted only a few minutes. This, together with the fact that a heavy cloud of black smoke from the mountain was seen later in the day from Waiouru. seems to indicate that a fresh outbreak has taken place. Rumblings could still be heard from the Chateau yesterday, and, although they were not as loud as previously, this was due to a change in the direction of the wind. Mr A. Manson, of the medical staff of the Chateau, stated last night that many of the streams near by were discoloured, probably due to the mud which has been thrown out of the crater lake. Reports that there had been some change in the crater of Ngauruhoe could not be substantiated by Mr Manson. He said that he intended to make further ascents of Rtiapehu during the week-end if it were possible. A party of geologists is expected to arrive at the Chateau on Monday night and Trill probably climb the mountain on Tuesday to observe the activity. The party will be headed by Mr A. Birth, of Bfawera. who formerly lived in Ohakune and has made an extensive study of the mountain. HOSPITAL DISTRICT QUESTION OF BOUNDARY CONFERENCE AT PUKEKOHE (0.C.) , PTJKEKOHB, Friday A conference of representatives of the Auckland Hospital Board, the medical profession, the Franklin County Council and the Tuakau Town Board, held in Pukekohe, expressed the opinion that the boundaries between the Auckland and Waikato hospital districts should be redefined, so that the North Raglan area, which it was stated had community of interest with Tuakau and Pukekohe, would be included in the Auckland hospital district. This has received the Pukekohe Borough Council's support. The conference decided to recommend to the Auckland Hospital Board that a district nurse he stationed at Tuakau and that the co-operation of the Waikato Hospital Board be sought to enable the nurse to serve the northern Raglan area. This, also, received the support of the borough council at last night's meeting. The Borough Council decided to send a deputation to the Auckland Hospital Board on Monday, with a proposal that a 30-bed hospital be established at Pukekohe. OHAUPO HOTEL SALE CONSENT SOUGHT AT £13,000 (0.C.) HAMILTON, Friday Consent to the sale of the Ohaupo Hotel for £13,000 was sought from the South Auckland Land Sales Committee in Hamilton yesterday. The vendors were Messrs H. and G. D. Lynn (Mr Wright), and the purchaser Mr C. T. Beamish, of Auckland (Mr Woods). For the purchaser. Mr D. H. Steen, public accountant, Auckland, valued the licence at £7850. The purchaser accepted the Crown valuation of £5400 for the land and buildings, making a total of £13.250. The Crown valuation of the licence was £4833, and the total £10.233. In connection with the value of the licence, there was argument as to the position of trade, in view of the petrol restrictions Decision was reserved. FREED FROM JAPANESE CIVILIAN IN MANILA (0.C.) HAMILTON, Friday The first news for three years was received by Mr R. A. Bygum, of Havelock North, from his brother-in-law, Mr Boyd Sansom, who has been a prisoner of the Japanese at Santo Tomas camp, Manila. The letter was dated February 12. Mr Sansom stated j that he wag suffering from beriberi and malnutrition, and had lost weight from 13st. to 7st. He was being cared for by the Americans and the Red Cross Society, and was hoping to return to Hastings soon. Mrs Sansom, who is a sister of Mrs Angus Macdonald, Hamilton, and her small son. who were also interned, were recently reported in the same camp. MORE SOLDIERS' WIVES ARRIVAL FROM ENGLAND (PA.) WELLINGTON, Friday The second party of British wives to arrive in the Dominion within two days was welcomed recently at the casualty clearing station. Their husbands. many of whom were repatriated or invalided home about a year ago and are now back in civilian life, were waiting for them. Air Force wives, numbering 37. were again in the majority. Three of them were widows. Children, ranging from the three months' old , baby of a Christchurch stoker to a nine- , year-old, the elder daughter of a Hamilton flight-sergeant, were sturdy and plentiful. The Minister of Defence. Mr -fones. , welcomed the arrivals on behalf of the ; Prime Minister, and Mr C. M. Bowden on behalf of the Leader of the Opposi- i tion. Mr W. E. Leadley, represented j the Returned Services Association. Sir Harry Batterhee, as the representative ■ of the United Kingdom in New Zea- < land, said they had come to "one of 1 the two best countries in the world." i