MALTE BRUN HUT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19480, 29 November 1928, Page 11

MALTE BRUN HUT.

SITE FOR NEW BUILDING SELECTED.

DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSPORT. Some time ago Cabinet made a grant of £IOOO for the construction of a new hut to replace the present Malte Brun Hut at Mount Cook, and recently Messrs F. Langbeiu, Resident Engineer, Public Works Department, Chnstchurek, W. H. Walton, president of the Timaru branch of the New Zealand Alpine Club, 11. L. Wigley, manager of tho Mount Cook .Motor Company, and Guide Williams went to tho vicinity to choose a site for tho new hut.

Mr Langbein, wlio returned to Christchurch on Tuesday night, told a representative of The Press yesterday that in choosing the site the prime consideration was to got one safe from avalanches, snowdrifts, and suchlike. It was considered that tho best site was one approximately 300 or 400 feet to the southward of the existing site, and this has been decided upon. A serious problem is that connected- with the transport of the material to the site. No difficulties present themselves until the material has been got to the Ball Hut; it can be carted to within throe miles of that hut, but it will have to lie packed by horse over those three miles. A little over seven miles separates the Ball Hut from the Malte Brun Hut, and it is over this distance that tho difficulties arise. For the greater portion of the distance the route traverses the Tasman glacier and there are no fewer than three moraines to be negotiated. Tt is impossible to pack by horse, and at present it looks as if the material will have to be man-handled over those rough and difficult seven miles. In view of this difficulty of transport, the design of the hut will have to provide for material of the lightest description consistent with the strength required. At best it is anticipated that it will bo slow work getting the material, on to the site. The present Malte Brun Hut has accommodation for eight people; in the hew hut it is proposed to provide accommodation for 24 people. Tho new Malte Brun Hut prohahly will be much on the game lines as tho present Ball Hut.