MOUNT HECTOR TRACK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 8

MOUNT HECTOR TRACK.

4 (To the Editor.) - Sir, —I had'much pleasure in reading in your journal the report of tho discussion on a vote of £'M for making a track from Groytown to Otaki, lia Mount Hector. The Uroytov/ii G'otnmittco have already done a lot of work in . cutting a track through from tho Waiohine Vallcw to, Mount Reeves iiid down into the Tauherinikau Valley, ;>nd from there up Bull- Mound aud ori to Mounts Omega-and Alpha. From hero it is fair going to Hector. The Otaki Committee -have done similar .work oil their side ,of Hector. I suppose threequarters of tho distance is on tho Greytown side of the "divide," and most of the work will he roeffiired litre. Last season l went over the track with a Government engineer, who gave a good report of the track, aiid hk suggestions, I hope, will bo adhered to, so as to make the track attractive. Dr. .Newman, M.l'., calls the money "thrown away" by being spout on this track. Ho docs not recognise the attraction this route is going to be in a few years. .It is practically the only sight worth .visiting within 50 miles of Wellington. Tho scenic, views immediately present ;no lovely, and in tho distance to the north the coast and Mount Egmont aro clearly seen. To tho south .a similar.long range of view is obtained, tho great Kaikoura Mountains being distinctly seen across tho Strait. Already a number of parties have crossed tho, rango and found it a most delightful trip. 1, hope to make tho . trip from Otaki t« Greytown during tho coming month witli a small party, and would be •pleased to take the doctor with me and show him a bit of New Zealand scenery. I was surprised to. hear him, who is a Now Zealand enthusiast, go against the voto. To Mr. Robertson I offer my thanks for his assistance in securing the vote, and I must also say the earns to Sir Walter Buchanan, M.P., for his valuable assistance. The vote of £50 for huts on Hector track is also a necessity. I trust to seo in tho near future at least three huts, en route. Last January my party was fogged on Hector, and a shelter 6hed' would nave been very welcome indeed.. Fortunately we had a capital little tent of Mr. \Y. }[. Field's with us, which stood us in co'od stead. As one of the originators , the present Greytown-Otaki track ■ (with Mr. T. M. Drummoud), I am pleased to see the Government of the day meeting the Track Committees in soVenerous « MAXTON. Greytown, December 16, 1913.