THE NCARUAHOE ERUPTION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2447, 11 March 1909, Page 5

THE NCARUAHOE ERUPTION

A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT. (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 10. The secretary of the General J’ost Office received by telegraph yesterday the following report, compiled for the postmaster at Rauriniu (about 22 miles' west of Ngaruahoo) by Mr. G. Wilson, Public Works engineer, who returned from the mountain last Sunday: — “1 ascended Ngaruahoe on the north side from the base. There appeared to be no unusual sign of activity beyond occasional puffs of vapour omitted from the crater. On reaching the top, however, it was clearly seen that'a fair amount of activity was in progress. The crater is fully 25 chains across, and it is divided,. roughly speaking, into three compartments. On the south side is a very deep hole fuly five-"chains-•'■across, 100 feet deep, with perpendicular sides. The bottom was casil.v visible, and from it were coming stong jets of steam, making a sound the same, ns a huge waterfall. The sides wVi'e 'also steaming, and emitting strong sulphurous gases, which affected the throat very perceptibly. Adjacent on the north side is a small crater about fifty feet deep, through which I walked. Strong fumes \vere issuing from cracks in the ground, and the bottom was quite hot. I did not think there was anything unusualy dangerous in Walking about the crater, but. subsequently proved that it was not by any means safe. To the eastward is a flat, open, space, on a much higher elevation than tho other division, and covered generally with fallen rock and debris. Vapour was being emitted from here also, through small fissures. In fact, broadly speaking, the general crater appears to be alive everywhere. “After viewing everything, I climbed out of the crater on the west side, and sat on the edge to take some refreshment prior to descending. Whilst here a peal of confused muttering and rumbling took place deep down in the volcano. To this I attached no importance, as Ngaruahoe is occasionally noiy. I descended on the west side, leaving the top about lialf-past three on Sunday afternoon.”

“On Monday evening, about 5 o’clock,' the residents in the vicinity of Waimarino AA'ere startled by a loud noise, similar to empty Avater-tanks being draAvn o\'er a rough road. This continued for about tAVontv minutes. Ngaruahoo Avas invisible at the time, being eiweloped by smoke caused by bush fires. In a A r cry short time, though, dense columns of-darlc-looking vapour Avere seen rising in her direction, and then it Avas plain to all Avliat eruption Avas in progress. As the prehad occasioned . tho noise, as a big vailing Avind Avas coining from the liorth-Avest, the deposit of ashes Avas thickest on the south-east of the cone ■and also on the saddle betAveen her and Ruapehu. The smoke appeared to be going in the direction of Waionru. The mountain continued to play vigorously for some time, but as night fell everything became obscured. “On Tuesday morning. howeA'er, activity commenced Avith reheAved- Angor, and continued throughout the day. The hot springs at Ketatalii, on Tongariro, and the lake in the crater of Ruapehu Avere very much disturbed, Avliilst geysers and steam jets Avere seen playing on the saddle betAveen Ruapehu,, Ngaruahoe, and avcll up the flank of the former mountain.

“By nightfall everything Ava® again ■obscured, and on Wednesday morning nothing Avas visible. ToAVards midday, hoAvever, the mountain Avas still smoking, but Avas very much quieter.”