ASCENT OF NGAURUHOE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11817, 2 April 1909, Page 5

ASCENT OF NGAURUHOE.

A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE. MOUNTAIN TOP CRUMBLING . AWAY. A special message to the Auckland Star from Tokaanu states: iir A. K. Firth, an English tourist, and Mr R. Farnall have just returned here after a successful ascent of the volcano N,gauruhoe. Under the direction of Mr Alf. Warbrick, the well-known guide, they started from the mountain hut at Ketetahi just before bayliglit on Thursday., and soon reached, the summit of Tongariro, but, ori account of dense fog and mist prevailing, the party remained for some time Avaiting for the weather to clear, which it eventually did, and they crossed the craters of Tongariro. and soon reached *be base of Ngauruhoe, where the view now presented was magnificent, the towering cone belching forth volumes of-ash and steam from the crater. It Was with much anxiety the party ascendedi Now and again a huge boulder would come wluzzing by at express speed down the cinder slope, having evidently .been dislodged at the top by the Titanic forces- at work m the volcano. While the party were toiling slowly up the cone, an eruption took place. As the party mounted higher- and higher towards thb crater, which was now pouring a shower of ash and mod all around, they had to pause a while, but again slowly ascended, gazing at tbe weird spectacle. Progress was very slow 1 on account of the steep slopes being covered With fresh loose rock, evidently ejected by the late eruption. At eleven minutes to 10 they gained the summit, and cautiously went to the eastern bdge to gaze into the crater and its Surroundings. -Wliat a change presented itself snioe Guide Warbrick was last ' there ! He says that the crater is about ten times larger than fprmerly. The party walked round the edge of the crater to get a photograph, but it was an awesome task, with the roaring accom? paniment of the crater, the hissing of steam, and the boiling of mud m a huge cauldron below. Now arid again, a s,ood view was obtainable down the huge cavern. The walls of the crater are now a mere shell of what was forincrly m existence, and the whole mountain top seems m a state of collapse. A .pecidiar incident was now brought under their notice, a hare being seen crouched on the mud volcano. The . party moved round to the west side of the crater and- examined it. A. crater, was discovered which did not exist on Guide WarbrickY last ascent. This was sending out a small column of steanl. The main crater had now huge vents,, the western one being the most active of the two.' After spending a most interesting and exciting half-hour on the summit, a. descent was. made m rapid" time, and all had a good rest for about an hour near the red crater, watching the rolling clouds of steam. They eventually reached the Government mountain hut, wjhich is most conveniently situated for making the ascent. _ . Guide War-brick states that Waimangu m all its grandeur was only an infant compared to what is to be seen at Ngauruhoe at present. A .peculiar feature of Ngauruhoe is thc great quantity of mud being- ejected from' the crater/