AMBRYM VOLCANO

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2125, 17 April 1914, Page 5

AMBRYM VOLCANO

PRACTICALLY SUBSIDED.

According.to the passengers who arrived in Sydney, by the steamer Pacifiquo last week from the Xw Hebrides, tho Ambrym Island volcano is still active, but now in a less violent form than was the case when tho last reports came to hand. Tho smoke, which was reported a few weeks ago to be hanging over tho island for a .distance of 200 miles aloug the coastlines, has now practically cleared away, and it appears that-tho crater has quito ceased violent eruption. From tho statements mads to a "Daily Telegraph" lepresciitativc by M. R. F. Courtais, a French cleric, the most noticeable changes in tho original aspect of tho island are to bo seen whero tho hospital once stood {.with its church), Dr. Bowie's house and its beautiful gardens, and many other minen't land marks.

This now centre of civilisation, which a few weeks ago was a mountain of ashes 500 ft, hig?i, has been further transformed by tho appearaifto el an active crater which runs right Ivrel to tho water's edge. Out in the bay the water was said to bo very hot, so much so that it Was considered unsafe for a boat io '•ensure on its surface.

Numbers of visitors have made their way to tho spot where the hosprtal.onco stood. Tho scene, with tho smoking mountain as a background, and tbo desolation wrought by falling stones, lava, and sand, is described as inexpressibly weird.

Tho natives have now quite recovered from the first shock, and practically the whole of those who ■banlon«l the island at the first eruption have i.ow roturned, mostly to their_ old 1-abita-tions.