VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.

ERUPTION ON MOUNT RUAI'EHU. ' AUCKLAND, April 17. The liaetilii correspondent of the Herald telegraphs that an interesting changer lias taken place in Hie appcaranco of liuapehu mountain. Yesterday tho mountain . was capped with Know, but this morning it was 6een to have lost its whicene«j and become of a bluish-grey colour. There is nothing whatever to explain this extraordinary transformation but tho fact that an eruption has evidently occurred somewhere on tho mountain. It i 3 coiioidered most probable that tho-hot lake on the eastern side of Kuapehil, which has recently been liioro than usually active, has, instead of sending up clouds of steam, caused an' upheaval of something more substantial. It is scarcely likely that Ngaruhob volcano is tho cSUso of tho it being several miles away, and much lower than Ruapohu. During the past two months Ngaruhoe has been very active, throwing ashes and mud to a considerable height. Tho lake on Ruapohu has also at intervals emitted clouds of Bteam, oh several occasions tremendous volumes of sloam .issuing above the mountain top. Heavy rumbling and explosions have frequently lieeii lieard at Oliakune, presumably from Ngaruhoe. At tho present time tho mountain is partly hidden by vain clouds, and future events a-ro awaited with much interest by tho residents.

April 18,

The correspondent of the Now Zealand Herald, telegraphing from Ohakiino, states that tho appcarance of Ruapchu remains unchanged, and- apart from a slight cart!)tremor anil an underground rumble .about 11.30 last riiplit there arc no further indications of eruption. The mountain was completely hidden from view to-day. being enveloped for the greater putt of the limb in' clouds of steam. Tho deposit of volcanic matter is not so largo ae wan'at first supposed. The correspondent adds! "Nuroeious theories have been advanced in explanation of tho strange phenomenon. It is, however, very uncertain whether or not tho supposed extinct volcano' has awakened frdni fi long slumber."

April 20.

The correspondent of the Ilorald, telegraphing from Hoctihi, states that c\onds of steam continue lo rise from Ruapchu, but no further eruption has been noticed. The outline of the top of tho mountain has slightly changed, a largo mass of rock having fallen some distance down (ho slope in tho direction of Ohakune. It is not known whether this is the result of an eruption or a landslip. A party from Ohakune will probably attempt an ascent of tile mountain on Monday.

April S2. Tho. Taupo correspondent of the Star, telegraphing to-day, stages that Mount Ruapehu is not visible now through the heavy clouds which completely block the vie-/; but it. is evident that the lake in the crater has been in active eruption, covering all sides with a heavy coating of bluish-grey mud and ash. A large avr.lanehb of icc from the glaciers has been tumbling down the riiounlain sides with a great noise* and the ite on tho "glacier" b much broken about, evidently through the shaking of the mountain during its pbriod of eruption. There has , been a p-eat deal of ao'tivitv Intel}- in the springs round Tokaanu, and the new .geyser is giving eolcwlid distrlavs daily; A RECENT INSPECTION. OHAKUNE, April 25. There are no of .activity-on-

Ruapehu, but- it_ is reported that a. portion i extern sido of tho cratcr of ruhoo has been broken down by ejected material. Tho most recent inspection of . Ruapehu was made at fetor time by two °®™ r ; s ,« f Public Work, Department at Ohattmc. Uiey found the cratcr lake steaming, with indications of tho ico walls having been undermined by hot water. Dust and a quantity of stones wero found on tho snow surrounding tho crater. Some of the largest pieces of material wero a foot, in diameter. A port ion of one brought lack burned with a blue sulphurous flame. Theso etones had been cjcctcd hot, as they had melted their way into tho hard snow and ice.