THE ERUPTION OF TONGARIRC

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 130, 4 August 1870, Page 7

THE ERUPTION OF TONGARIRC

The subject of the extraordinary phenomena now being presented by Tongariro is exciting the greatest interest, not merely in Hawke's Bay but aver the whole colony. Some days ago the immense volumes of dense Mack smoke which are being emitted from Tongariro, were plainly visible from the bills at Napier, as well as from parts of the surrounding plains. The loud reports which have been distinctly heard for the last fortnight — and which are, at times, likened to the boom of heavy artillery, others to the noise caused by the falling of an 'mtnese body of matter — are still heard on the plains at intervals of five minutes or thereabout. One of the Armed Constabulary, just down from Tapuaeharuru, on Taupo Lake, says that the reports (which are very loud in the vicinity) are sometimes accompanied by a quiver of the earth, and in each case by a great up-burst of flame and hot masses like molten rock. A broad stream of red hot lava is distinctly visible flowing down the side of the mountain in a wavy, irregular mass ; and in the night, the flames issuing from the crater are described as forming a highly interesting and beautiful spectacle. The natives are very superstitious about this eruption of Tongariro. They say it is a sure forerunner of the death of Te Heu Heu and others leading chiefs of Taupo and Waikato,. including the King. They state that the explosions and the apnearence of red hot lava is quite a new feature, never having been known in connection with any previous occurrence of the kind ; and their expressed belief is that the eruption will continue with great violence until it result in the bursting up and subside ace of the volcano, when it will leave an immense basin like Taupo, which will become filled with water. This, it may be observed, is their theory of the original formation of Lake Taupo. Further information will be looked for with great interest, and it is much to be regretted that Dr. Hector, or some other scientific gentlemean, has not had the opportunity of personally matins; observations of the very remarkable phenomena to which we have adverted. — " Hawke's Bay Herald."