Reports from Correspondents. MOUNT TONGARIRO ACTIVE Alarming Rise of Lake Taupo.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 157, 19 June 1886, Page 5

Reports from Correspondents. MOUNT TONGARIRO ACTIVE Alarming Rise of Lake Taupo.

Taupo, June 14. At four o'clock yesterday morning a loud explosion was heard in the direction oi Tongariro followed by a muffled rumbling noise. The waters of lake Taupo were greatly agitated and rose considerably, rushing up the beaches in a tremendous surf and pouring through the outlei at the head of the Waikato river with • deafening roar. There was not a breath of wind and the country was enveloped In a thick fog. At daylight the lake was smooth and tranquil, and had resumed its usual level, but the water marks were 3till plainly discernible high near j the 3hores. Tongariro is hidden Dy clouds, but yesterday it showed signs of unusual activity, emitting large and intermittent volumes of steam. Karakapiti geyser and the ngawhas adjacent are also unusually activ.e ; and on the shores at Lake Taupo at Waipahi the steam is rising in greater quantities than was ever known before.

Alarm, of the Shepherds. ' From the south end of the lake news has 2ome that during the day and night pre 3eding t the eruption, Tongariro was roaring xngrily, and at intervals thundering out loud reports like heavy cannonading. The affrighted shepherds at the foot of the mountain waited in terror for the dawn to make their escape into Tokano, fearing instant destruction. Being in a valley, they saw and knew nothing ol the eruption at Rotorua.

Appearance oi. the Lake Country from Taupo. ; Rotomahana as seen from here presents an awful and grand eight. One immense volume of steam and smoke, ooveririg probably fifty square miles, rises high up into clouds, Rotomahana and the site of the once beautiful terraces being situated about the centre; while away to the north-west of this a large volcano, supposed to be Kakaramea, is emitting r & large and continuous volume' of black smoke, and at ni^'ht fire i» dlaihly to be seen issuing therefrom.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF TONGARIRO S OUTBURST. Wellington, June 14. ' Mr Gray, Secretary for Telegraphs, has received a telegram from Tarawera to the effect that last night a noise as of an eruption was hoard in the direction of Tonga riro, And yesterday morning the mountain was covered in a kind of mist, so that it i was impossible to obtain a glimpse to see whether there were any signs of activity. The settlers in the neighbourhood are alarmed at the noise the mountain was making, and remained up all night.

ANOTHER EXPLOSION AT TONGAR2RO. /■ At half-pa&t three this morning another oxplosion was heard in the direction of Tongariro followed by a severe shock of earthquake. > 1 p.m. Occasional rumbling noises have been neard this morning. Tongariro continues to be hidden by thick clouds.