MYSTERY TRAMP

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21146, 23 April 1934, Page 6

MYSTERY TRAMP

A DAY ON BANKS PENINSULA SUCCESSFUL OUTING Excursionists to the number of 425 travelled to Little River yesterday by Ihe Railway Department's first mystery hike of Ihe season. The weather was ..loriouslv fine and the excursion was generally voted to be ne.o of the host. yet hold. . , , , ,<,.,,, ' The train left Christchurch at .1 a.m. and arrived at Little R-vor shortly e.Her 10 o'clock. Then; sery.ee eats met the train and took 75 of the oxeut■ionisfs over to Akaroa. where a most enjoyable 'lay was spent. The; other 350 persons walked up the I eoka and Okuti Valley roads to the summit e.f the hills and then along to Hill lop. From there they went, down Barman s track through the Puaha Valley and back to Little River, a total distance of about 12 miles. The return journey was begun at 5 o'clock and the tram arrived in Christchurcli at 6.20 p.m. The first part of the tramp, through the Okuti Valley, was remarkable for the beauty of the bush. Above large masses of'greenery could be :-v.vn tall trees with their leaves in all shades of autumn colours. A halt was made for lunch about 11.15 a.m.. and before continuing, community singing was held bv the "Hiking Troubadours." After lunch, the way led up a steep, rougn path to Stewart's Peak (2075 feet;, which some of the more energetic of the Iranipers climbed. An excellent

view was obtained from there of the coast, north and south, of Ihe Son I hern

Alps, and (he Peninsula, and pariicuJarly of Akaroa. Places of especial interest which stood out prominently m Akaroa harbour wen; the Ounwc Peninsula, famous in Maori history, and Green's Point. Mr W. A. Croft, who organised the excursion for Ihe Railway Department, was very pleased, with the result. He said it was the third largest of all the mystery excursions held and was easily the largest first trip. He added mat another tramp would probably be held on May 20.