OUR GRAND MOUNTAIN, RUAPEHU.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12120, 14 March 1895, Page 2

OUR GRAND MOUNTAIN, RUAPEHU.

(Contributed bt J.M, With many it has been a qu3stion of uncertainty whether Ruapehu is still an active volcano. For years I havo been convinced tint the mountain is active, and some years ago I contributed an articlo or ttyo, describing whit I had son and how grand the appearance was, as seen at thii distance, I have now to record an eruption that took placaje> torday afternoon. Sunday, 10th March, was a remarkably fine bright sunny day, wiih scarcely a puff of wind blowing or a cloud in ihs s'»-y. Rnapehn stood in all its snow clad grandeur as usuil on such occasions. I had been viewing its bnauty many times during the dty. In the afternoon, about half-post four, I was sraliflad by a right such as I had scarcely seen before, though a resident of 40 yaars in the district. Apparently from the central cone thore arose a large volumo of smikeor steam— or smoko and steam combined. Its ascsnt was beautifully gran-), ot times gorgeous VV hen at a great height (I imagine some thousands of feot) it gradually disappeared, bnt (he dense supply wat kept up for hours. It was truly magnificent especially towards madown, when the mass was gilded by the rays of the gsttme sun. It then was a sight worth swing. I have no doubt but that which 1 have attempted to describe was witnf S3ed bj hundreds, and ilnre maybe some tha will be able to do more justice ti the sub ject than I can ; at any rato I hope bo, Wo doubt the occurrence of Sunday afternoon i^t/l convince the doubting ones ai to the activity of Ruapehu. May we not congratulate ourselves that we have such a safety valve for theso districts ?