LOCAL MOUNTAINEERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 287, 16 September 1947, Page 2

LOCAL MOUNTAINEERS

ACTIVITIES OF EREWHON BRANCH IN 1946-47 “The branch has had quite a successful year as far as trips go, and although the peaks climbed were few, it can he seen that we have not been idle, but have been fairly consistent when it was possible to arrange parties and weather,” states the notes of the Erewhon branch of the Canterbury Mountaineering and Tramping Club for 1946-47 in the club’s official publication “The Canterbury Mountaineer.”

Regret is expressed at the loss suffered in the death of Mr D. Gordon, and in the departure on transfer to Hamilton of Mr W. Vaughan.

According to the notes Mt. Hutt (7180 feet)"was climbed by a party on August 4 of last year. On September 28 an attempt was made on Mt. Taylor (7693 ft), but ended up in the party surmounting another peak by mistake. A further attempt qn November 24 on the same peak was frustrated this time within 300 feet of the summit by northwest winds. On December 14 an attempt was made on Tent Peak, an opportunity being taken to see if a route to the top of Tent Peak existed by way of the North Cameron Glacier. On February 22 a party set out for the Two Thumbs, but because of lack of time were unable to make an attempt on the objective. Easter Camp With the primary object of instructing mountaineers in the use of the rope, crampons, ice-axes and general mountaineering craft the usual Easter camp was held at the Carrington Memorial Hut. Six members of. the branch attended —J. Pattle, A. Dixon, L. Childs, R. Stewart, P. Grigg and E. Burdon. During the camp Ashburton members climbed Davie (7490 ft) and Mt. Murchison (7873 ft). “On the day following election day Alan Cookscn and Jack Pattle left Mesopotamia on horses and rode up the Clyde River to Sentinel peak,” it is related. “On arrival they decided to climb the peak by horse. This they did quite successfully. At odd times they had to dismount, but whether this was due to the terrain or because the saddles were hard is in doubt. As far as can be gathered this ie the first time that this peak has been .climbed, also it would appear that it was the last one in the Armoury Range to he climbed.

Also mentioned as being on one or more of these trips were Misses Muirhead and Pilbrow, Messrs T. James, L. Childs, H. Cotton, E. Burdon, C. Denham and Arthur Dixon.

she would get it out of Rusden’s pocket. , Rix continued that the accused and he went in a car at night, and drove past Rusden’s home. Accused told him Rusden was in camp. They went to Tawa Road, where they pulled up and changed into military clothes, which had been brought by the accused. They drove past the Rusden home. Accused got out, and he drove down to the Rusden house, as arranged. He knockeu at the door of Mrs Rusden’s house. Mrs Rusden said: “Who is there?” He said he was from the military camp, anti that her husband had been hurt, “f was supposed to take in the crank handle from the car with me, and hit Mrs Rusden over the head with it, but 1 did not take it. in with me.”. Rix added that Mrs Rusden hopped into the car, and he drove along Campbell Road. The car stalled, and' he was getting out to start the car when out of the corner of his eye he saw the accused hopping into the back seat. He saw she had her hand raised. He thought the accused was going to hit Mrs Rusden, and he sort of pushed Mrs Rusden, Who screamed and fell out into the road. A light went on in a house opposite, and a man called out, “What’s going on?” Accused, who was in the back seat, told him to “go like hell,” and they drove off. Accused said, “What did you stop me from doing it for? I will never get another golden opportunity like that again.” He. later told the accused the price was not big enough, and lie did not want to put his head in a noose.j

“Give It Another Go”

Tn further evidence, Rix said be took clothes he used to the accused, because she said she would get rid of them. Accused, in the morning, gave him one £5 note and five £1 notes.

Referring to the burning of the military greatcoat and Glengarry cap, wit, ness said tlie accused told him she did the burning. Accused later asked him if he “would give it another go.” She said she would give him £SOO. On another occasion she said she “would have Rusden in with her.” The job was to he done at night time or in the morning after Rusden went to work. Witness said that as long as the ac cused was going to pay out, his attitude was that he would string her along. Witness stated he was “in the boob” for four months for theft, and after he came out accused asked him if he still considered doing the job. Her price had dropped to £3O. Accused had given him a key to the Rusden home a long time after the assault. Among other ways accused suggested to do the job was to shoot Mrs Rusden on the racecourse.