VOLCANO AT WEST WANGANUI.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 254, 25 October 1881, Page 2

VOLCANO AT WEST WANGANUI.

News baa been received of a volcano haTiDg broken out near West Wanganui, on the west coast of this Island, aboat ton milei from Collingwood, and to the subterranean disturbances which have been goiog o» and ultimately developed into thii form may perhaps be attributed the frequent slight shock* of earthquake that cave occurred of late, one of which was felt between two and three o'clock this morning, and another aft 1 £15 p.m. today. A Wellington telegram giyea the following account of the volcano: Mr Gray, the Secretary of Telegraphs, has received a telegram from the officer in charge at Collingwood stating that two men, named Coffey and Heard, who have jnat arrived there from West WaDganui report a volcanic eruption at the latter plice, not far from the Golden Ridge claim. Three large fU«urei are apparent about eight feet wide at tb? top and gradually narrowing. Thousand! of tons of debris bave been thrown np, and a stream is still issuing from the fisßurea with a rambling noise. The smell in the neighborhood resembles that from a kerosene lamp. On receipt of the above we wired to oar correspondent at Collinijwood for the fullest informat'o^ on the subject that was available and received the following reply:— ' Collingwood, Tuesday 12.50 p.m. Beyond the fact that there is a volcanic eruption at West Wanganui, very few particulars are to hand. Attention was first drawn to the spot, which is abo«t a mile distant from the Golden Ridge claim, on the night of the 15th inst. by a rumbling nclso similar to that preceding an earthquake, but somewhat louder, and on the spot being visited three days later two fissures were plainly noticeable, the largest being about two feet m width, out of which smoke' wap

issuing acdompanied with heat. Since then the fissures have increased both in siiel and number.