TONGARIRO IN ERUPTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3006, 18 December 1896, Page 2

TONGARIRO IN ERUPTION.

A Magnificent, Awe-inspiring Spectacle. Mr Edward Peters and Dr Friedlander Interviewed. The Whole Occurrence Graphically Described. Special to the New Zealand Times. Napier, December^!?. On Tuesday morning considerable curiosity was aroused by the fact that there had been a heavy fall of volcanic.dust during the night. All broad-loavod foliage was covered > with a sediment which was palpably volcanic ash, and looked like flour puuucc. It Iwns thought there* had boon some volcanic eruption, but, as there was no news of such a thing, nothing more was thought of it. A representative of the Evening Nows interviewed Mr Edmund Peters, the well-known coach proprietor of Tokaanu, hist night, and from his lips ascertained the cause of the fall of dust in groater.or Ivsa quantities all over the Hawke’s Bay province, and especially heavily in and around Napier. It appears that the first outbreak took place about five weeks ago, Tongariro belching forth at a spot about 200 foot above the summit of Te M«aro on the northern slopeconsidered, rightly *or wrongly, to bo one of Tongariro’s safety valves. Mr Peters was only eight miles distant at the time, ilc says the.sight was beautiful beyond description. The eruption was preceded by . a succession of earthquakes, no leas than 140 being recorded as having been felt at Tokaanu during the night. Just before the first outburst, smoko and ilamo were seen and a terrific roar was heard like the sough of a monster rocket. A long, loud rumble then occurred and the earth in the vicinity oscillated with a. peculiar rocking motion. Clouds of smoko, flame and dust intermingled doll, the sky, it is estimated, for about a mile, and spread mushroom like. Soon the whole of the higher atmosphere in the neighbourhood became obscured and an awe-inspiring darkness enwrapped the locality. Iha air at the same time became heated almost to an unbearable pitch. Soon a shower of small stones began to fall and a hasty retreat ou the part of the spectators was deemed advisable. Miniature atones the size of peas rattled like hailstones ou the roofs of some of the houses in the vicinity during the whole of one night. There were several smaller eruptions from time to time, but the second big outburst took place on Friday week, when the mountain emitted oven a greater quantity of debris in the shape of au almost impalpable grey dust which covered the country iu the vicinity;, iu some places to the depth of several inches, and for II miles all round with a deposit about 2iu thiekjwhilet flax bushes, fern trees and other vegetation drooped with the unusual weight of the volcanic dust. The country, soon from au eminence, presented a peculiarly weird appearance in its grey coating. Mr Peters does not think that the dust from either of those explosions reached Napier, but that the visitation there was caused by emanations of minor and yet considerable eruption ou Sunday morning last, when a stiff westerly wind was blowing from Tongariro, which is almost duo west from Napier.

Ruapehu, Mr Potera informed the interviewer, shows no sign of disturbance. Ngauruhoe is emitting a white, sulphurous steam, but it is not of an unusual description. He is very emphatic on that head, in view of certain erroneous reports which have boon circulated from Auckland with regard to the matter, and he is in a position to have his statements considered authentic, as his usual coach route lies close round the base of the mountain from Tokaanu to Waiouru, and enables the traveller to make a inspection of the whole group of mountains, the nearest point of the road being only live miles distant from Ruapehu. Dr Friedlandor, the famous Swiss Alpine explorer, under the tutelage of the wellknown guide, Roderick Gray, was on Tongariro during one of the outbursts, and had to boat a hasty retreat windward in consequence of the suffocating fumes and sulphurous

smoko. party had some rather hazardous experiences. The Doctor says he has visited all the famous volcanoes of the world, but nowhere before baa ho soon so grand, so awe-inspiring, so truly beautiful a sight as that which ho viewed on this occasion at To Monro. So impressed is ho, indeed, with his experience that ho has determined to prolong his stay for another week, and is oven now encamped on an adjacent mountain in company with a friend and the

guide, Mr Gray. No immediate danger is apprehended by the residents, as the eruption is looked upon as having bfeon tho outpouring of a safety valve, and it is anticipated that it will ensure the quietude of Tongariro for a time at least. As forthe dust shower, tho fact that it has covered up the grass and herbaceous vegetation in tho immediate vicinity is looked upon with comparative equanimity, because it is recognised that with a few showers of rain this will bo remedied, and everything will grow hotter than before, because of tho fertilising top coating. The sunsets at Tokaanu at present are said to bo so beautiful as to battle description. This is owing to tho play of the iridescent rays of tho sotting sun on tho molecular myriads which have boon floating in space over since the beginning ot tho eruptions.