MT. NGAURUHOE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1926, Page 1

MT. NGAURUHOE

ITS RECENT ACTIVITY. AUCKLAND, April 20. Whether there was any connection between the Hawaiian eruption and the aetivitiy reported from Ngauruhoe was a question pub to-day to Mr A. J. Bart rum, lecturer in geology at the Auckland University College. He said there, was not the slightest connection, hut there was a suggestion that such disturbances were dependent more or less on sunspot activity-.

Referring to the report that Ngauruhoe was reported to liavo developed a now vent on the north-eastern side, and that, it was constantly emitting steam. Mr Bartrum said it was well known that the mountain was always more or less active, while at times it broke out with more intensity. Professor Marshall had shown that craters were continually undergoing changes, and there was nothing alarming in the news that, a new vent, emitting steam, had appeared. There was no record of lava having come down from Ngauruhoe. Tt might he remembered that, sonic ten years ago a party that wont up during n period of marked activity thought it had discovered a- flow of molten lava, but when the top was reached what had been thought to ho lava was found to 1)0 hot ashes, which had glowed in the dark.

Referring to the areas of activity. Mr Bartrum mentioned that the whole of New Zealand showed a great deal of evidence of north-cast and south-west, fractures, and it was along such linos that wc had AA’hitc Island and other signs of activity. Air Bartrum said he often told his students that it. was rather a pity that Rnngitoto did not develop some activity. There would ho no danger whatever if Rnngitoto were active. Perhaps shipmasters would have to exercise a certain amount of caution at times, lint, our volcanoes were so small that, if active again, like Ngauruhoe or even Vesuvius, there would ho no danger.