Flames Leap To Height Of Over 1000 Feet

Chronicle (Levin), 1 May 1948, Page 5

Flames Leap To Height Of Over 1000 Feet

Press Assoctati0nJ

(Per

WANGANUI, April 30. At 7.30 p.m. Mouiit Ng'anrulioe erupted. This was I'Pportecl .by Major A. Holmes, commandant oi the Waiouru military eainp. In a telephone iuterview Major lloimes said that it was great sight to see flames reaching' a height whieh he estimated : at 1000 feet. - From where he viewed the eruption oh the Desert Road it appeared that a, great quantity ot lava and rock was being ejected. There was little danger to the surrouildihg country as the mouutaiil is fairly isolat^d from phiceS of liahitfltioii. 1 11 a telephone iuterview Mr. L. J. Rayfleld, manager of the Ghateau Tongariro, said it was the most spectacular sight he had seen. The&outbreak eame 'without warning, flames accompanied by a roar and white smoke bursting out suddenly. Iluge rocks were hufled out and he estimated4 that the flames at their peak reaehed a height of 2000 feet. Tlie mountaiii side was soon enveloped in a red glow. For more than two hours the flames eontinued to reach heights varying from 1000 to 2000 feet. They died down somewhat later. Ngaiiruhoe first erupted in 1889 hut there was a bad eruption ih 1913. It last erupted in 1926 but has been quieseent since then, a period of 22 years. Moiint. Ruapehu which has been in eruption 111 reeent years and eaused considerable damage to grasslands by depositing hard metal-like grit orer the couiltryside, has been quiet of late.