NGAURUHOE ACTIVE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 14

NGAURUHOE ACTIVE.

A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE (F-P.oxi Oub Own CcJrrespoxdent.) AUCKLAND, April 27. Xgauruhoe has been indulging in one of its periodical fits of activity during the past few days. Huge tongues of flame and volumes of smoke have been issuing from the crater, providing a magnificent spectacle. The mountain was visible from Taupo on Saturday evening and on Sunday. A party, when crossing the lake on the launch Sunbeam on Saturday night, saw what appeared to be a flame issuing from the crater, deep rumbles like heavy thunder acoompanying each outburst. Magnificent views were obtained from Taupo on Sunday of frequent “shots,” which sent up enormous clouds of blac-k smoke, some being accompanied by heavy rumblings. The outline of the summit (says the New Zealand Herald’s Taupo correspondent) has been changed. As seen from Taupo, it is lower on the right-hand side than formerly. Mr G. Wratten, of Cambridge, and a friend, who spent the week-end camping on the Wairoa plains at the foot of the mountain, report having spent a very anxious time on Saturday night. Early on Saturday afternoon Ngauruhoe began to rumble very fiercely and to send up dense volumes of smoke. Throughout the night tlie “shots” became more frequent and louder, resembling the reports of a great cannon. These explosions caused the ground to tremble, and stones and rocks could be heard pouring down like hail on an iron roof. After daybreak there was one tremendous report, which sent up a huge black column of smoke to the height of about 1500 ft.