VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 51

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.

NGAURUAHOE IN ERUPTION. AN AWE-INSPIRING SPECTACLE. AUCKLAND, March 6. Advices from National Park to-night state that the crater of Ngauruahoe is still active. Heavy rain is sweeping the mountain and the rumbles heard through the mirk and mist are awe-inspiring. Telegraphing late last night the New Zealand Herald’s special reporter, who is visiting the mountain, said : Ngauruahoe is increasingly active. Already there have been several explosions that have ejected rocks and ash on the northern slopes and to-day the rumble was almost continuous. For six hours the sound swelled and sank at W hakapapa, resembling the roar of heavy breakers on a rocky shore. At times, however, it was like the roar of a vast avalanche. Messrs R. Cliff and L. Duffin, of National Park village, had a thrilling experience yesterday morning. They went an o a^e P°P° hut beneath Ngauruahoe. Although the volcano was rumbling they set out to climb it. They had not gone more than a few hundred vards when the first shot took place, ejecting boulders that rolled down the north slope. They piomptly retreated to a place of comparative safety from where, half an hour later, they saw the second and greatest outburst. The noise was terrific and the earth trembled. Rocks were hurled high into the air and for 10 minutes were hurtling down the slopes. Many were shattered to fragments. Some that leached the low level were estimated to weigh two or three hundredweight, oeveral parties were on Ruapehu at the time and Mr Mahony, of Ohakune, reports that following the mighty explosion wave went across the crater lake. lhe breeze was towards Whakapapa at the time and there half an hour later volcanic ash fell. Throughout Sundav afternoon the volcano rumbled spasmodically and occasionally belched white and black clouds After sunset, however, two heavy shots ‘ook pla ce, each dropping heavy matter on the north slope, and from Whakapapa the course of the descending rocks could be followed on the skyline by the dust or smoke they raised. During the night there were no explosions, but the rumble t r. IeSS continuous and owin® 16 C T? U< ? S 11 , was im P°ssible to see any glare. During the eruptions of two ago a glow was seen above the crater on Sitter‘keot and HS lip . often red "itb 6 k^i ln i. SUSpen . s l on 3t the brink, heavy shot the buildings at°Whak a a papa Huts. The volcano was enveloped in clouds at th e time, and it was not P °At' b m d H See iJ f TOCks Were e J ect ed. It A <Lm B d a d ? y t £ e no:se was full throated. It seemed to those near the base of the mountain a« if the whole earih was charged with life, and the violent voice from above rising and falling without pause seemed to have its origin in the a® 17 rt v° f , the earth R was a -rey day with the ightest of rain coming from the south- east, but for two hours the mountain w as clear, and from moment to moment one lived on th e tiptoe of But the big shock did not come. The volcano growled, rumbled, roared, and occasionally boomed with terrific pressure; but the culminating blast dld , not I? l,ow - At 1 o’clock there was a sudden silence, and not till then did one IX™ bow dommatmg the n ois e had Deen, the hush almost hurt. After 10 minutes it was broken by a rumble that rose and rose to the very point when one expected to hear the crash of a vast blast; but again it turned down the scale without making an eruption. Soon after, clouds enveloped the crest and throughout the afternoon the whole mountain was obliterated, and only occasional rumbles were heard, but doubtless a ° e . to g and ram are muffling the sound. It is the habit of the mountain to intensify its activity towards dark, and to burst into violent life after a lull. A deposit of grey ash covers the highest portions of the north slope. Most of the patches of snow on that side have disappeared, while the remainder are grey with volcanic ash.

A few weeks ago a Christchurch geologist descended Ngauruahoe’s crater alone to take bearings and make observations. He remarked at the time on its possibilities for much activity.