RUAPEHU CRATER

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11422, 19 January 1923, Page 2

RUAPEHU CRATER

THE EARLY DISCOVERERS. MESSRS G.-BEETHAM AND J. P. MAXWELL. Regarding the reference in the I‘Times” to the ascent of Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. Tho late Mr George Beetham, M.H.R., and Mr J. P. Maxwtell, M.litit-0.E., were thp first white men to discover the crater on Ruapehu, the lips of which form its summit. Prior to this the existence of any crater was unknown. Kerry Nicholls made exploration? on the northern faces, but he made no mention »f the extensive and peculiar crater, and did not suggest that he reached the extreme summit. Mr George Beetham made an attempt to reach the summit from the north, but was interrupted by snowstorms and failed.

After a visit to Mr Bidwill it was determined to try an ascent from the south by way of the great leading southern spur which now-a-days is conspicuous from the North Trunk Railway. The party started from Erewhon by way of the Murimutu Plains, Mr William Birch then resident at Erewhon accompanying, but he did not complete the ascent. A camp waa chosen on the mountain at the upper margin of the curious dwarf birch bush which covers the foot of a great moraine, from which the glacier has long since receded to the higher level of the mountain, about 0000 feet above sea level. On thesx lower spurs are verv curious beehivelike bubbles of solidified lava about 6 or 7 feet high. The view of the deep gorge, through which the Wangaehu, emerging from the crater near tha summit, reaches the Murimutu Plains, is very magnificent, Seen from tho mountain, the sides being studded with lofty columnar pinnacles of rock. rha tain occupied three days, the

first selecting a camp and exploring the spurs bordering on the margin of the Wangaehtt Gorge; the second selecting a route, and tins third ascending and returning. The ascent from the camp took nine hoars and the return 4$ hours. A brief account of this was given by Mr G. Beetham ta *lu Wellington 'Philosophical Institution, a record of which exists in its proceedings. A few weeks after this account was given an easy route from the north was discovered, by which numerous parties have since visited tho crater