ALTERED CRATER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 610, 12 March 1929, Page 2

ALTERED CRATER

NGAURUHOE’S ACTIVITY CLIMBERS’ EXPERIENCES (From Our Own Correspondent J OHAKUNE. To-day. Evidence of recent volcanic activity on Mount Ngauruhoe has been discovered by a party of climbers who made the ascent under arduous conditions a day or two ago. They found a considerable alteration in the shape and quantity of the in the crater. The party' consistea of Messrs. TL A. Robbie, R. Bleme.rhassett. C. Gowland. W. F. Mahoney (OUakune), and N. Patching (Wellington). At the start or the climb visibility was limited to about five miles across the plain, and at the foothills of the volcano thick clouds and mist were met with until visibility' was limited to about 30yds. Great care was exercised, ana the climbers reached the top safely. One of the party' who had made the ascent in 192 6 says lie was surprised .to find considerable alteration m the shape and quantity' of the deposits, while there was clear evidence ot recent internal eruptions of some violence. _. , Two gullies from 40ft to »oft deep and 300yds* to 400yds in lengtli had been gouged out of the northern slue, and there were many signs of subterranean activity on the western side where several recently-formed gullies and deposits of pumice were found. The remaining sides were not clearly visible, but from what could be seen there did not appear to have been any change for some time. . On both the northern and western sides there was no sign of any ground moisture and streams, which cany good flow of water in winter, were absolutely dry. BETTER FUTURE CONDITIONS When the new road, now under construction, is completed, it will be Possible for climbers making the ascent of Ngauruhoe to shorten the joureny and to do away with the tramp across the plains, which takes fully f oui hours. It will then not be necessary to camp at the huts, as climbers wiU be able to motor to the huts, do th mountain trip, return to the huts, and motor back in the one day.