TARARUA TRAMPING CLUB

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 234, 29 June 1922, Page 8

TARARUA TRAMPING CLUB

THIRD ANNUAL MEETING NEED FOR BETTER TRACKS, Thb third annual meeting of th® Tararua Tramping Club was held at the rooms of Billiards, Ltd., last evening, when Mr. W. H. Field, president* presided Over an attendance of up* wards of 60 members, including 20 ladies. Annua! Report, The committee, in presenting tho an. nual report, stated that they had plea.sure in announcing that the year just ended had been a particularly activo one, and in some respects their most successful. The membership was increasing steadily, and it was pleasing to note that larger numbers were devoting themselves to the walks, although in tjjy respect the committee still ?elt that many, of the delightful trips that had been arranged were too sparsely patronised. In addition to the usual fortnightly outings there had been two large camps, both of which proved most enjoyable. In August some thirty members visited the Tongariro National Park, and spont eleven days in exploring this delightful territory, and in making acquaintance with various kinds of alpine and snow sports. During the Christmas and New Year holidays a large party camped at Ltowden’s Bay in Endeavour Inlet. The weather throughout was most unseasonable, and on many of the days it rained hard. Still a great deal of boating, fishing, and tramping was indulged in. Included in the fortnightly outings were several one-night camps, which proved most enjoyable, and during th® ■ EaSter holidays a camp was held at the Pakuratahi. The club’s .thanks were due to quite a number who had shown hospitality to members on the various outings. Included in these were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Semple. Mr. and Mrs. Greig, Mr. Victor Braund, Mr. Burdan, Mr. Murphy, M. Lane, Mri Matthews, of the Wairongqmai, and Mr. Charles Gray of Pukerua. Mr. Thomas had, too, bn many occasions placed his whares at the disposal of the club. ■ '*

- It ds with sincere regret that the club had to record the deaths of Messrs. Harold Freeman and E. J. Kime, from exhaustion and exposure on the T&raruas. Mr. Freeman died at Alpha Hut, on Anniversary Day, after crossing the range from Otaki Forks in a severe storm. The club, under the direction of Mr. D. R. Hoggard, had with very little' expenditure of funds erected two huts on the saddle between Dobson’s Mistake and Mount Marchant. A good track had also been cut through the dense secondary growth approaching this point. Through a generous donation of the president, Mr. W. H. Field, the track leading from Greig’s farm, at Reikorangi to Mount Kapakapanui had been greatly improved. It was probable that neither Mr. Freeman nor Mr. Kime would have died had the Central Hut been erected. It would cost less than £lOO to deliver at Otaki Railway Station a. hut (built in. sections), and the Otaki Club and this club had undertaken to see to the transport of such hut from Otaki to the site near Mount Hector and its erection on such site.' It was to be .hofled that /the Minister of Public Works would now reconsider the matter. Blazing the Trails. In reviewing the past year’s operations, the president said that the club was becoming a power in th? land. During the past year the club had had the sad duty- of hunting for members who had become lost on the ranges. He referred to th® splendid work which had been done by the rescue party which had gone out to search for Messrs. ,Bolions a/id Kime. The club looked upon the Hector tramp as their one great tramp, and they regretted that lives had been lost through their failure to complete that track. The Minister had recommended that £lOO should be placed on the Estimates for the track. Those who had been over the knew that it was impossible to .find one’s way in a thick fog, and tho blazing of the track at frequent points was necessary. As the chief guide had recommended parties should never consist of less than three. These trips were perilous, and he (Mr. Field) had had a close call in crossing over the track with a friend. It was also essential to have someone in each party who knew th® track. The club had gone in for a certain amount of equipment, and stores had been placed in the various huts.' » (“Potential Murderers." They noticed with extrema indignation, the president that certain persons had been eating th® food in the. huts without replacing it, and also using the. firewood stored for emergencies. The chief guide had stigmatised these people as potential murderers, and this was exactly what they were. Altogether they could congratulate themselves on having dona good work during the year, and pioviding healthy exercise for young men and young women. Generous Donations. The relatives of the late Mr. Kime had expressed their desire to donate £5O to the club towards improving the track. The Girdlestone Memorial Committee had also offered to donate £25 towards the erection of the central hut. Another Track Advocated. Mr. D. R. Hoggard seconded the adoption of the report and balancesheet. He referred to the generous donation which Mr. Field had made to the Kapakapanui track. no thought tracks should be formed to branch off from the principal tracks. He hoped that ultimately there would be a track from Kaitoke to .^ oun . . Marchant, and thence to Alpha ana I Omega, and on to the Manawatu Gorge. The club had two °^ OCtB T' to encourage pedestnamsm and to inculcate hardihood and self-reliance in the community. They all felt e^ ce . inglv gratified at the growth of the club and the measure of support they were receiving. , , Tlie report and were adopted. Scenio Reserves. On tho motion of Mr. Arthur Seed, It was decided that a letter be written to the Prime Minister urging that the scenic reserves of. New Zealand be placed under the jurisdiction of the Stat®, Forest Service. Another Hut for Trampers. An announcement by Mr. Arthur Seed that he would place his hut at Waiotauru, above Otaki Forks, at the disposal or members of the club was received with applause. Election of Officers. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —President, Mr. W. H. Field. M.P. (re-elected); vice-presi-dents, Messrs, von Haast. Hoggard. Thomas, and W. H. Wilson; chief guide, Mr. Vosseller; hon. secretary and treasurer; Mr. A; N.'Sinith; co'riimittee, Messrs. J. H. Gibbs, G. Phillips, A. 0. Gifford, J.'H. Jerram, A. AViron, L. B. Cross, G. B. Brown, A. J. Couchmail, H. C. Milne, R. T. Edwards, Professor Boyd-Wilson, Dr. Wilkins; hon. auditor, Mr. Ross; official photographer, Mr. Milne.