MOUNTAIN LODGE OPENED

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30740, 3 May 1965, Page 1

MOUNTAIN LODGE OPENED

Exactly 849 visitors attended the official opening of the St. Andrew’s College mountain lodge in the Castle Hill basin on Saturday. This count on entry was typical of the precision and timing of all arrangements.

From Castle Hill the way to the site was marked with college flags. At the turnoff and all the way in, guests, who had driven 65 miles from Christchurch, were saluted by kilted members of the college cadet battalion and directed to a parking area. From there most walked, but transport was provided for the elderly. This stage of the journey of more than a mile was through a beech forest, then downhill to the Thomas river and across by stepping stones, with a stiff quarter-mile climb to the lodge. The Minister of Transport and district member of Parliament (Mr McAlpine), with his wife, was piped up the hill by the marching college band to arrive exactly at the appointed time of 11.30 a.m. Mr McAlpine said this was a project close to his heart as a high-country man, as a lover of youth, and as a “neighbour at Craigieburn.” Forty years ago he had his first experience of mustering on the slopes all around. “When a nor'-wester flings up the shingle on the tops or you are mustering hoggets out of the limestone of Castle Hill you really get to know this country,” he said. This mountain lodge exemplified aspirations for healthy minds in healthy bodies, said Mr McAlpine. Boys would climb, learn resourcefulness, and study

nature and encourage others to come into this class of country. “Everything is to be gained —physically, intellectually, and spiritually,” said Mr McAlpine. The chairman of the college board (Mr F. N. Lawrence) said the project was conceived

when the former rector (Mr L. W. Stewart) visited the “Timbertops” lodge of the Geelong Grammar School in the Blue Mountains. Two senior masters, Messrs F. J. Bennett and F. Finnegan, chose the site, Mr T. M. Stanton designed and supervised the building, and Mr J. S. Callaway led the voluntary working parties over two years. The present rector (Mr I. T. Galloway) and the bursar (Mr G. A. M. Hilson) made a tremendous contribution by organising gifts and help and taking part themselves throughout. “This is a magnificent co-op-erative effort by staff, pupils, parents, old boys, and other friends by which generations of young people will learn to love and respect the high country,” said Mr Lawrence. Mr P. B. Foote, of the Burnett Valley Trust, which gave £5OO to the project, said that the late Mr T. D. Burnett, M. set up the trust now worth £40,000 to aid agriculture and love of the high country at St. Andrew’s College.

“He would be thrilled by this project,” said Mr Foote. “I can imagine him now talking to you about, his beloved ‘misty gorges.’ It is great fun for us spending someone else's money but this God-fearing man of intelligence and integrity would be so pleased that we offer another £lOO toward floor coverings.” Just 100 years ago, when Charles and John Enys took possession of the Castle Hill station, they could not have imagined such a project on part of their former land, said Mr Galloway. They were tremendously interested in the area, its natural history, and conservation, and gave friendship and hospitality that were noted. The college accepted these traditions for perpetuation at the lodge. The college chaplain (the Rev. W. J. Schrader) gave a prayer of dedication. Throughout the day visitors inspected class work in the mountain lodge laboratory, examined permanent accommodation, and climbed surrounding slopes through the beech forest.