ROCKS AS BIG AS HOUSES

Chronicle (Levin), 4 May 1948, Page 5

ROCKS AS BIG AS HOUSES

WANGANUI, May 3. Rocks described ;is heing as big as houses wero being ejected by Mt. Xgaurulioe this morning, but AI t. Ruapehu was fpiiet after being moderately active throughout yesterday morning. Xgauruhoe showed increased activity in spasms in the afternoon. At these periods the volcano shot spectacular clouds of smoke higli into the slcy. Ash could be seeu dro]>])ing from the smoke of the periodic bursts of energy. At oue tinie distinct smoke clouds were drifling into the northeastern horizon. Of ihe severn! parties who attempted to climb to the volcano 's crater rim veslerday, only those who ascended from the south were successful. One party of two 111011 tried the ascent by the normal route, which is along from the Mangatepopo hut. thence u j» the ridge belueen Tongariro and Xgauruhoe, but were forced to retreat when giant hot boulders began to fall in their direction. Ifad they made Ihe top they would probablv have been suffoeated by the dense clouds of ash which fell from the smoke inimediately it rose abo\e the crater. Those who reached the south rim were also lucky, because late in the evening roi-ks were being ejected from that side also.