WINTER SPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 11

WINTER SPORTS.

CONTESTS DELAYED. MORE STORMJ AT RUAPEHU. MOUNTAIN HUT OPENED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) NATIONAL PARK, this day. No winter sports events'were held on Ruapehu during the week-end, for stormy weather made the continuation of the New Zealand and Dominion-Australian contests impossible. Heavy rain and sleet fell on Saturday, with snow yesterday. The position is regarded as acute, for several skiers are likely to have to leave during the next day or two. The I Australian visitors have had only one clear day in nearly a fortnight at the mountain. Teams have been chosen as follows for the international events:—Men's downhill: Australia, T. W. Mitchell, D. Stogdale; New Zealand, H. Wigley, B. McMillan. Women's downhill and slalom: Australia, Miss A. O. Davy, Miss P. Fa'rquharson, Miss O. Lamble, Miss D. Tickle; Nevf Zealand, Miss J. Veale, Miss P. Murphy, Miss J. Murphy, Mrs. D. Jackson. Men's slalom: Australia, D. Stogdale, T. W. Mitchell; New Zealand, A. Wigley, B. Murphy. Long distance: Australia, R. Gelling, W. Annabel; New Zealand, B. McMillan, B. Murphy. Jump: Australia, W. Annabel, D. Stogdale; New Zealand. H. Wigley, B. McMillan. There was an interesting ceremony yesterday at a height of 6000 feet on Mount Ruapehu, when the Ruapehu Ski Club's new glacier hut was officially opened. About 00 members of the club, with several visitors, climbed through whirling snow and sleet to the new building, which is the best-appointed club mountain hut in the Dominion. A tribute to those who had conceived the erection of the hut and carried it out was paid by the club president, Mr. R. Syme. He emphasised its importance in connection with ski-ing all the year round and as a great safety factor on the mountain. Mr. W. S. Rennie, former secretary of the club, also spoke, and Mrs. Syme, wife of the president, performed the opening ceremony. She described the hut as a monument to the hard work of club members, and unveiled a coloured metal tablet in the shape of the club badge, which is to be fixed to the door of the hut.

At the annual meeting at the Chateau on Saturday night the following officers •were elected:—Patron, Mr. A. t). Mead (Auckland); president, Mr. R. Syme (Hawera); vice-presidents, Messrs. N. A. Campbell (Auckland), T. A. Blyth (Ohakune), E. A. Marchant (Wanganui)J honorary vice-president, Mr. F. Lomas (Wanganui); club captain, Mr. J. C. McComish (Auckland); vice-captain, Mr. H. R. Holt (Napier); honorary secretary, Mr. W. S. Horne (Auckland); honorary treasurer, Mr. C. R. Hesketh (Auckland); committee, Misses H. Basset-Smith (Wanganui). R. Schmidt (Auckland), Messrs. C. B. Lewis (Raurimu), D. MacPherson (Palmerston North), J. W. Palmer G. D. G Plummer (Auckland), W. S. Rennie (Wanganui). S. Ringer (Auckland), B. Murphy (Wellington), R. C. Murie (Wellington). Appreciation was expressed of the fine services of the retiring captain, Mr. R. C. Murie, and a clock wis presented to Mr. Rennie, secretary for many years.