RUAPEHU ERUPTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 183, 30 April 1940, Page 6

RUAPEHU ERUPTS

Blue Mud On Snow A Mile From Summit CRATER LAKE DISTURBED Mount Ruapehu erupted one night last week for the first time since May, 1936. No noises were noted by people at the Chateau during the night, but the following morning dark grey streaks were seen on the glacier and also on Para-te-tai-tonga. Guides ascended the mountain and found that the snow for about a mile from the summit was covered with blue mud, iu some places more than six inches deep. It was found that au eruption had evidently occurred iu the crated lake, as its waters were considerably disturbed and a fair quantity of steam was coming off. It is estimated from the area over which mud has ben thrown that the eruption must have been about 1000 ft. high.

Signs of violent activity in the crater lake on the summit of Mount Ruapehu were last found by a party of climbers who ascended the mountain on May 11, 1936. The snow slopes on the southern side of the lake were on that occasion covered for an area of about a square mile with a layer of dark grey mud. The most recent previous eruptions were in August and December, 1934, and February, 1935.