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i A.A.P.-Reuter
WELLINGTON, Fri. - Writhing
"flames" of molten lava were
erupting 500ft, into clear sky over Mt.
Ngauruhoe (7,515ft.) in the centre of
North Island today while an aeroplane
carrying the Government vulcanologist
(Mr. J. Healy) circled the mountain.
This was. the first recorded
instance, Mr. Healy said, of
lava seen "fountaining" ¿rom
the crater although the vol-
cano was seen many times-in
eruption.
As the aircraft swung low
over the crater two vents were
ablaze.
The'jagged "flames" broke'
Into ragged red pieces, that
sailed skywards.
The only gauge to the-eíze of
the outburst was the apparently
leisurely pace at which pieces
of cooling lava dropped from
the zenith of their flight to
crash in clouds of dust into the
black lava bed of the crater.
Smoking Streams
The lava flow started at 7
a.m. today after several weeks
of steadily increasing activity.
Observers on the ground can
see a trail of smoke from the
lava flow reaching halfway
down the mountain, anti two
streams of lava can clearly be
seen through binoculars.
A party . of mountaineers
from Chateau Tongariro set
out on foot this afternoon
for a- closer look.
Ngauruhoe several times pre-
viously has erupted spectacu-
larly, but this is possibly its
biggest display this century.
The volcano stands in the
centre of a desolate plateau.
The nearest settlement is a
mountain holiday resort, The
base of neighbouring Mt.
Chateau, six miles away at the
Ruapehu.
It was the torrent of water
from Ruapehu's crater laie
which swept the traiu to dss
1 aster at Tangiwaá last Christ-
mas Eve.
3,000ft. Stream
An airways pilot said tonight
that the cone of erupting
Ngauruhoe from 50 miles away
looked like a giant lighted cig-
arette end.
Burning- lava is flowing
2,000 to 3,000ft. down the
western slopes.
Observers at Chateau Ton-
gariro eight miles away said
that streams of red-hot law
outlined the mountain against
the sky, and a cloud of reddish
smoke .hung like a halo over
the crater. There were con-
stant ejections of red-hot rocks.
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