NGAURUHOE ACTIVE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1928, Page 4

NGAURUHOE ACTIVE

HOCKS THROAVN FROM CRATER. AUCKLAND, March C. Advices from the National park tonight state that tho crater of Ngauruhoe is jtilL active. Heavy rain is: sweeping the mountain, and the ruinhles heard are awe-inspiring. Telegraphing late last night. the ‘•Herald's’' special reporter, who is visiting the mountain, said:—

Xgauruhoc is increasingly active. Already there have been a numlior of explosions that have ejected rocks and ash' on the northern slopes, and to-day the rumhle was almost continuous for six hours. The sound swelled and sank at Whakapapa. resembling the roar of heavy breakers on a roekv shore. At times, however, it is like the roar of a vast avalanche. Messrs R. Cliff and 1.. Ruffin, of National Park village on the railway, had a thrilling experience yesterday morning. They went to Mangatcpopo hut .beneath Ngauruhoe. Although the volcano was rumbling they set out to climb it. They had not gone more than a few hundred yards when the first shot took place, ejecting boulders that rolled down the north slope. They promptly retreated to a place of comparative safety, where half an hour later they saw the second and greatest outburst. The noise w;is terrific, and the earth trembled. Rocks were hurled high into the air. and for ten minutes were hurtling down the slopes. Many were .shattered to fragments. Some that reached the low level were estimated to weight two or three hundrdwoight.

Several parties were on Ruapehu at the time, and Mr Mahoney, of Ohakuno, reports that following the mighty explosion a slight wave went across the crater lake. The breeze was toward Whakapapa at the time, and there half an hour later volcanic ash fell. Throughout Sunday afternoon the volcano rumbled spasmodically, and occasionally belched white and black clouds. After onset, however, two heavy shots took place, each dropping heavy matter on tho no: Hi slope, and from Whakapapa the course of the descending rocks could he followed on the skyline by the d.’i.-t or smoke they raised. During the right there were no explosions, but ike rumble was more or less continuous, and owing to the clouds it was impossible to see any glare. During 1 lie eruptions of two years ago a glow was seen above the crater on clear nights, and its lip was often red w-rb hot matter kept in suspousi ni at the brink.

At six o’clock on Monthly morning a heavy shot shook the building at Whakapapa lints. The volcano was enveloped in clouds at the time, and it was not possible to see if rocks were ejected. At one o’clock there was a sudden silence, and not till then did one realise how dominating the ro'se had keen. After ten minutes it was kroken by a rumhle that rose and rose to tho very point when one exp-wied to hear the crash of a va-i least. I> .it. again, it turned down I lie soils without, making an eruption. Soon alter clouds enveloped Ihe ere;'. all-1 throughout ill.- afternoon ike while mountain was obliterated and only occasional rumbles were heard, Ini' doubtless the fog and rain a-o imuT ling the sound. It is the habit »i the

mountain to intensify its activ'iy toward dark, and to burst into violent life after a lull. A deposit, of grey ash covers Ihe highest portions of the north slope. Most of tho patches of snow on that side have disappeared; the remaining are grey with volcanic ash.

A few weeks ago a Christchurch geologist descended Ngauruhoe’s crater ajojie to take hearings and make observations. lie remarked at the time its possibilities for much activity.