MOUNTANEERING IN THE SOUTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 45

MOUNTANEERING IN THE SOUTH.

ASCENT OF THE THREE GREAT VOLCANOES. INTERESTING NOTES FROM THE NATIONAL PARK. (From Oue Own Correspondent.) Wangakui, March 13. Mr and Mrs Malcolm lloss, who during a short holiday tour in the North Island mads the ascent cf Kuanehu, Ngaruahoe, and Tongariro, arrived here yesterday, via the Wanganui River. Mrs Rofs is the first of her-sex to climb the three great volcanoes -of the North Island, and the only woman who has ever set foot on ihe summit; of the active volcano Ngaruahop. Mr Ross, who was interviewed by a Chronicle reporter, gave a briet outlive of bhe vxpedihion, which was a most inborestiug on«. Mr Frank Lowe and Me Russei!, of Wtllington, wvra among the party wao climbed the three mountains. On arrival afc the base of operations, Ngaruahoe presented a magnificent sight, the mountain being unusually pctive, and belching forth enormou* columns of sfctam, which rose to a height of from 200 ft to 300ffc. Indeed, tne mouatain seemed too active 'do be safely ascended. Ib was uot'eed, however, that the activity was least ia Ihe mornings, st> it was df-cided to make a very early start from a camp at the base of the mountain. The vveather was glorious on the day of the ascent;, and tha p&rty were on the summit of the volcano shori ly after 8 am. A new route was takeD, "the a«cent being made by the steep bub firm rocks of one of the mora recent lava stream?. Owing fco a chaoge in the wind the chmb^s had to go round the cone to the westward for some disstance to avoid the fumes. They were most fortunate iv being abe fco descend into the basin of the main crater, and to approach right to the rim of the inner, and peer into its osvfraous depths, from which steam and dnaoke came rolling upwards in greab puff. Very few people have been able to look into the inner crafcer, and on this occasion ib presenttd a graud and weird sight. The und trembled, and there wss a continual billing ai-d gurgling into the main vent, which is of large hz=» and no doabb of great depth. From one point of view the fura^s were exceedingly powerful and unpleasant, and could not; be breathed for uiora than a minute at; a time. Jets of strain hhssd here and there from the floor of the crafcer near the outer rim and also from the large secondary crater, which is filled up wibh a miss of. sulphur ashes and volcarr'c deb?is. The rocks on fcbe high cliffs ihifc rise above the crater on the eastern side appf-»f to ba crumbling away and falling into the crafcer, so that tha mountain ia probsbl?' slowly decrf using iv heigh 1 ". Some be&uliful specimens of sulphur and other crystals were s. cured from the sides of the crater. The views s-.n either hand were magnificent, and Sgmonfc towered ab^ve the clouds. AXff r ex* mining the wonders that surrounded them the party descended the mountain on the opposite side tor 2000;fc, crossed the great southern crater, and climbed along the Ttngariro Earge. H°re the wonders of fc'ie red craler, the sfceange sulphur lagoons, and the beaufciiul blue crater lake of Rotomahaua, which ia perched at an elevation of 5670f fc, were duly admired, Sbeam was issuing from the red crafcer, and Te Mare was active. Carap was reached after a long day's scramble of 14- hours, bub the wonders of fcbe crater of Ngaruahoe. the glorious views from the summit of tire volcano, and the interesting features of the Tongariro Range were a more than ample reward for all the rxertions of the day. The ascent of Ruapehu was made From' a high camp, via the large glacier on the eastern face, and four hours were spent on the summit of the mountain. The crafcer lake was found fco be cold — indeed, there were lumps of ice floating in ir, and cliff j of ice 60ffc high on the southern side. Mr Rosa therefore thinks thafc the reported eruptions of Ruapehu, as recently telegraphed to the newspapers, are more mythical than real. On the eveniDg before Me Ross's party made the ascsnfc, what was supposed to be strata wss seen risiog from the vicinity of the crater Jfke; tut on investigation the u«-xfc day ifc was found that the supposed steam wai composed of clouds of ashes blown about in the wind, and there was no sign of activity anywhere on the mountain. There can, however, be no doubb thab Ruapehu is still an active volcano, for both Mr Lowe and Mr Cussen, Government surveyors, have seen the crate? lake boiling and steaming. Mr Hil!, of Napier, has also witnessed a similar phenomenon. Mr Ross menbiona that; the rainbow fcroafc sent from tho Wellington Acelimitisabion Society's ponds at Masterton were liberated by Mr Frank Lowe on arrival ab Ruapehu in the Waionru, the head waters of the Waikato, Piripiri, and M&Dgatoefcoemu sfcreams, which all flow from the Tongariro National Park Mr Ross secured an excellent photograph of one of the red deer rteently liberated in fcha National Park. This was a fine animal, with a head carrying 10 points. The deer, however, became unpleasantly icqußitivf, and the photographers had to retreat hurriedly with their cameras fco their waggonette. The stag followed them for eight miles into Tokaanu, and turned out to be ». remarkably quiet aod docile animal till some 300 Maoris, who had assembled at Tokaanu, aud had never before seen a deer, irritated him to such an extent that he became furiousj and rusiiod Mr Blake, brother of the

hoteikeeper, knocking him down and goring ' him ssriousiy in the thigh. The night was dark and no cne was at haud at the moment to render assistance, so that Blake had a. very uan.-o'w csc-vpe. This stag follows a half-caste Maori r.boub like a dog. The half-caste calls Lira " B;lly," and he answers to the name and follov.s himheme. Nevertheless, he is becoming , a groat nuisance and may have fco be shot Several other deer tuvecoine over the Kaimanawa Ranges from the Napier side. Stoats snd weasels have also made tteir appearance vi the National Park, so thafc fcha phessints there are like y to btcome t xierminated. Kivsis are still numerous in the bush on the Kaitnauawa Ranges. »ud the Maoris occisionaliy mike expeditions and secure them in considerable numbers. Numerous iLUbton birds make their home for a time on vh v slopes of Ruapehu. The party experienced beautiful weather from start fco finish of the expedition, and were delighted with the fine forefiC t-cenery along the rou.e, the wonders ot fcbe volcanic region, and the braatiful scenery of the Wangatnii River above Pii'iriiii.