NGAURUHOE IN ERUPTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 138, 11 March 1909, Page 2

NGAURUHOE IN ERUPTION.

A tremendous eruption of Ngauruhoe took place on Tuesday, and was witnessed with great interest and not a little fear by the passengers and tourists on the overland route by coach from Waiouru to Tokaanu.

Shortly after leaving Wajouru the passengers saw a small column of smoke issuing from the crater, nothing unusual, for it is always smoking a little. However, when they got close to the mountain, about 1 a.m., a huge black column of smoke shot skywards, rolling over and over till it reached a height of about 8000 feet above the crater. And soon the already smoky sky was blackened with the falling signs of activity. About 4 a.m. the occupants of the half way house were awakened by a heavy rumbling and explosions, and at eleven o'clock, when the upheaval occurred, the western side of the crater seemed to blow clear away, as that side is much lower than formerly. The old residnts of the district say that the present outburst is the finest seen for years, even including the big outbreak in 1869, when the lava streams poured down■ the western side. A splendid view of the eruption is now obtained from Taupo across the lake, and passengers by coach have a fine close view, as they pass ronud the base of the volcano.