RUAPEHU ACTIVE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1014, 2 January 1911, Page 8

RUAPEHU ACTIVE.

WEIRD STATE OF THE CEATER. ;By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, December 31. The first party of tourists to roach tho top of Kuapehu "lis season left Kangataua via Snow's track,' ami report that, while crossing the Jlaugaehuehu Glacier, they could smell sulphur very strongly, and thought that iSgauruhoe must be in eruption. The parry continued across the' glacier, and tnen up the spur between (be ilangaehuehu and Mangateitoi Glaciers, having to cut steps* tor about five chains to the top, which was covered with frozen snow. When the party reached the top their attention was at oiice drawn to the lake in the crater which, instead of being of its usual gray, was of a dirty blue with black lines through .it. A noise like tlijt of falling of earth was heard, but little notice was taken till the noi.se became louder, and then, from the west side of the crater, yellow and black mud issued, and this spread out into the lake, while steam was commencing to rise. The rumblings continued, and from the centro of tho lake and also from near tho south side, there came up thick red mud which bubbled like boiling porridge, and sent up steam. At the east side of the lake there was a steady thin volume of steam rising from tho lake level. The 'snow, for several chains down the east side towards the Wangaehu Glacier, was covered with' black dust giving tho impression that the crater had blown out above'.the lake lever where it was still steaming. Tho party stayed for an hour and a half, and quite enjoyed the sight. They observed that the mud worked its way across tho. lake to the east, indicating that there was a current in-' the turgid water, and that the outlet was at the east side, but underground. The visitors took tins as a confirmation of the theory that tho source of tho sulphur* stream Wangaehu is tho crater lake. The partv consisted of Messrs. J. 11. i. Bateman- (of North East Valley, Otago), P. M'Culloch and his twelve-year-old son, Lawrence (of Rangataua), and Geo. bnntli (of Kangataua).