THE REPORTED ASCENT OF TONGARIRO.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2438, 28 January 1882, Page 3

THE REPORTED ASCENT OF TONGARIRO.

As the reported ascent of Tongariro by Mr D. Manson, the travelling representative of the Waltham Watch Company, created some excitement at the time it was reported, the following explanation, given by Mr Manson himself in a letter to the Otago Daily Times” of the 21st instant will bo read with interest:—

Sir, —On my arrival here yesterday my attention was called to an extract from a Timaru paper, published in your issue of the 21st ultimo, re the ascent of Tongariro. As the libellous diatribe is not only a piece of the most despicable sarcasm, but a slap in the face cf the Press Association, with your permission I desire to state that the account tent by the association was not to the effect that the writer was the first to make the ascent of Tongariro, but that I was “ the first pakeha whom the Natives permitted to make the ascent of the burning mountain.” The only error in the message was in calling the volcano Tongariro. I did not make the ascent of that mountain, but the volcano of Auruhoe, which is about a day’s ride from Tongariro, and is approached by the Bangipo Plains and Waihohono Valley. Tongariro it not an active volcano, but sa extinct crater, with a few steam-holes, hot springs, and a small lake on the summit (which we could see from Auruhoe) and is comparatively easy of ascent, it being some 1500 feet lower than the volcano.

So far as Auruhoe is concerned, I may add that no ■white man or Maori was ever before permitted to make the ascent, and the writer is the first to whom the Natives have given such permission. In verification of these statements I may mention that I have the assurance of Mr Moorhouse and Mr Batley, stationowners in the Kangipo district, gentlemen who have lived there many years, also the chiefs of the Ngatitama and Ngatiwiwi tribes, as well as many of the oldest settlers in the Tokano and Taupo districts. I have not the pleasure of knowing the Press Association’s or any newspaper correspondent at Taupo, neither have I any desire to post myself as their champion, but merely wish to remove the stigma of untruth with which they are dubbed, and to state for the information of this verdant scribbler at Timaru that it were better for him to learn first to read correctly the Press telegrams before attempting to criticise their authenticity, and thus save himself such ignominious gibbeting. No doubt this veracious aspirant for literary distinction has been storing his mind from Chapman’s guide-book, where an account is given of Mr Bidwell, an explorer, who, in 1839, attempted to ascend the volcano. This gentleman, however, does not give any account of the altitude, and states that he did not go into the cone, adding that “ ho had no desire to be either boiled or steamed to death.”

In 1878 Mr Connelly, an American artist, made an attempt to ascend Auruhoe, but was captured by the Maoris and denuded. They took his two horses, guns and all equipments, and then turned him away from the mountain ; and I believe the New Zealand Government are now endeavouring to get the horses, &0., and return them to Connelly.—l am, &0., D. Manson. City Hotel, Dunedin, January 19th, In addition to the above the following partioulars'havo been received by a gentleman in Christchurch in a private letter from Mr Manson :—“ As you will perceive I did not ascend Tongariro, but the active volcano of Auruhoe, and am absolutely the first to whom permission was given by the Maoris to make the ascent of the sacred mountain. Bidwell, Dyson and Dieffenbnoh state that theydidnot ■enter the cone, and I know of no living man, white or black, who did enter, other than myself and the two guides, one of whom was a half-caste and the other an Englishman. The three Maori guides would not venture to the top, and after climbing about 1000 ft returned, terrified. On their way down, however, the clouds lowered, and they lost their track, and did not reach the camp in the Waiohouo Valley until midnight. The ascent of Auruhoe cannot bo attempted without great, danger and risk of life and limb. After a tiresome climb of 2000 feet over a seaof frozen lava and ashes, we encountered masses of frozen snow, until we reached the altitude of 6000 feet. From this on to within twenty-five feet of the summit was up a glacier as slippery as glass, and almost perpendicular. On reaching to within about twenty-five feet of the summit we had to wade through soft mud that had been ejected from the crater but afew minutes before. We walked round to the east and found an opening into the cone, which was filled with steam and covered with clouds. Falling on our hands and feet we crawled down the interior of the cone for about 200 feet, sounding as wa wont every inch _of ground, lost we should fall into a boiling spring or mud hole. The sounds and noises were terrible. All around us were steam and blow holes, boiling sulphur springs, and mud geysers, roaring like the most powerful steam engines I had ever heard. The sight was one of awful desolation and rnin, and never to be forgotten.”