VOLCANIC DISTURBANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26791, 7 June 1948, Page 4

VOLCANIC DISTURBANCE

STEAM FROM NGAURUHOE Daily Times Special Service AUCKLAND, June 6. A thick column of steam was seen rising from Mount Ngauruhoe. yesterday and to-day. Reports received tonight from the Taupo and Tonganro districts said the steam became visible only when the clouds broke away from the crest of the mountain and it was possible that the column had been rising before the week-end. There was no other activity from the mountain. The report from Taupo said thal Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu and Tonganro had been obscured by low-lying cloud for some days, but became visible or. Saturday morning. Although the steam poured quickly from Ngauruhoe it did not reach a great height and it appeared that there was not much pressure behind it. Clouds again obscured the mountain early yesterday afternoon At periods to-day when the clouds broke away, the steam was still rising steadily. The report from Taupo also said that a column of steam from the mountain preceded the outburst early in May. On that occasion the steam rose for about three days before the activity became violent. Ngauruhoe had been seen clearlj from the Chateau Tongariro only £ few times in the last two weeks, said a report from that district. Snow had been falling steadilv over Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. The column ol steam was white this morning, but i changed slightly in colour later in the day and had a grey tinge toward evening.