Ruapehu in Eruption.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 219, 16 March 1895, Page 3

Ruapehu in Eruption.

_» A correspondent writes to the Chronicle : — With many it has been a question of uncertainty whether Ruapehu is still an active volcano. For years I have been convinced that the mountain is active, and some years ago I contributed an article or two,' describing what I had Been and how grand the appearance was, as seen at this distance. Sunday, 10th March, was a remarkably fine bright sunny day, with scarcely a puff of wind blowing or a cloud in the sky. Ruapehu stood in all its snow clad grandeur as usual on such occasions. In the afternoon, about half -past four, I was gratified by a sight such as I had scarcely seen before, though a resident of 40 years in the district. Apparently from the central cone there arose a volume of smoke or steam — or smoke and steam combined. Its ascent was beautifully grand, at times gorgeous. When at a great height (I imagine some thousands of feet) it gradually disappeared, but the dense supply was kept up for hours. It was truly magnificent especially towards sundown, when the mass was gilded by. the rays of the setting sun. It then was a sight worth seeing. No doubt the occurrence of Sunday afternoon will convince the doubting ones as to the activity of Ruapehu. May we not congratulate ourselves that we have such a safety valve for these districts ?

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