Varied Rotorua News

Southland Times, Issue 19771, 22 March 1906, Page 2

Varied Rotorua News

A NEW GEYSER

GALE AND EARTHQUAKE, RUMOURED GOLD DISCOVERY. Per United Press Association. ROTORUA, March 21. A mud pool in the Kuirau reserve, developed 'into a geyser in action this morning, and threw mud to a height of,fifty feet; covering the manuka bush for a radius of fully sixty feet. The pool is close to the path used by pedestrians, and a quantity of mud was thrown on to the footpath. Telegraphic advice was received from Taupo to-day stating that a gale is blowing there, accompanied by very heavy rain, and warning shipping. A pronounced earthquake occurred to-night at 7.20. There is a rumour in town (hat gold has been discovered on Maori land bid ween 20 and 25 miles from Galatea. A number of men are camped close by, waiting the permission of tbi* Maoris to go on the land. The native Minister (Air Carroll) and Mr Kidd, M.H.U., proceeded to Galatea.

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY ,IN AUCKLAND.

AWE-INSPIRING SCENE. , , AUCKLAND, March 21. On Thursday last a large column of steam was observed ascending from Ruapehu, and it was concluded that thermal ation was going on. A party was organised by Mr Moors, of London, who bad made two previous ascents of the* mountain. When the summit was reached il was seen that a violent eruption of Hie large crater lake had taken place, for the greater portion of Hie glacier and snow fields on the east side and summit were covered with a dark grey deposit and rocks. Approaching the lake Hie deposit became thicker and Hie holes larger, caused by big boulders, whilst mounds of mud at intervals rose up four to five feel, high on the ice. Looking across Hie lake, which is about SHH yards wide, it was seen to be violently boiling near the centre, with great, wuvel.-ts of yellow looking matter floating away on (he. surface, and steam was also rasing from the surface. On Hie south side of the lake Hie ice ebbs were shattered to pieces and Ir'ge masses of ice came tumbling into I hi' boiling water with a terrific io;,r. only to soon disappear in tin* boiling seething waters. The whole scene was aw<*-iaspiring im Hi" extreme. Ngarannihoe volcano. '.vlii"!i is adjacent, is also very active, sending out volumes of smoke and ash, so that there is unusual volcanic activity at present.