THE HECTOR TRACK

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 234, 29 June 1922, Page 5

THE HECTOR TRACK

■ sir —I read with pleasure the remarks made by Mr. F. W. Vossoler anent the above popular tourist track. I trust what he said >ll bear fruit. Tha irin from Greytown to UtaKi is one of P the most delightful one can imagine, either for New Zeal * n< * ers ° r Visitors from other dimes Yet like any other trip, certain rules must be obeyed or there will be trouble. Tourists must be fit, that is, their muscles must have been previously trained and hardened to endure the uphill and down dale exercise on the muscles, or cramp and fatigue will be the result. Then” again, as Mr. VosSeler aptly pointed out, no party should consist of less than three; four would be better. It is one thing to climb the mountains in summer and quite another to do so when ; they are snowclad and vet to the uninitiated nothing is better than the latter, and I am looking torward to th© time when skiing will be a popular sport on the Tararuas. Now, Sir, notwithstanding what 1 have said, and keep reiterating, trampers will venture across without being properly, equipped, without having any training, and without a competent guide. It has already been stated that those wishing to make the journey should first bo compelled to get a perihit from the Otaki, Wellington, or Greytown Tramp Clubs, as being official bodies, and knowing what is required to make a successful jaunt. As an alternative, I would say that, it is now time the Government Tourist Department took the track over, so as to control the traffic, and.. keep the necessary guide posts, etc., in or<ler - The Grey town Tourist Club was the first formed to make this hill wa'k popular, and went to no end of trouble and expense. They, with the able assistance of Mr. W. H. Field, obtained assistance from the Public Works Department and Tourist Department, but now the track is «o much used, it is. as I say, time the latter Department took control. The Grevtown-Mount Rector Tourist Club is just on the eve of erecting a whare with two rooms on its section Upon the Waiohine. This will give one room for men and one for women, and will he. comfortably fitted with bunks. This will serve instead of that known as Bassett’s whare. . We are indebted to Mr. Frank Wall, of Mahaki, Martinborough for this, for he has given the money to build the hut. It 'will he on a Crown lands reserve dedicated ■to the Featherston County Council, in trust for the Greyl town Club. I understand the Government lire Isupplying the material for building a hut near Mount Hector on the Otaki side, which is a most urgent matter. A gqod suggestion has also been made that a dug-out be made at, say, the top of Mount Hector, that could be used in a case of urgency. This could be put in the side of the (mountain low. enough down Ito be Another very urgent matter to be considered is the bridge across the Tauherenikau River. I believe the major portion of the material is readv for transport, and, if so, labour is now more plentiful, and the material ceuld be packed up from Grey town. In the above I have not referred to the lamentable accidents that have occurred of late, as that has been very strongly stressed already; but thev should impress the yoyornment with the importance oft taking over the track, and putting it in order, or as I said in previous correspondence, prohibit' tourists from enjoying this excellent trip as a pastime and exhiliration of health. —I am. eto.. MARK MAXTON. Greytown, June 22, 1922.