WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 84, 7 January 1928, Page 8

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

NOTES AT RANDOM

(By

T.D.H.)

Every time a United Stales President talks about peace treaties Europe forgets _ that a United States Senate is waiting in the background to throw the treaties into the waste-paper basket.

Mount Aspiring, which has just beet ascended for the third time—and this time by a party without guides—is Otago’s highest mountain, and its 9975 feet makes it higher than anything il the North Island. In some New Zetland handbooks it is described as second' only to Mount Cook, but in reality it is about twentieth on the list of the Dominion’s peaks. It is a beautiful peak, soaring up westward of Lake Wanaka, and is remarkable for the enormous precipices on its flanks. On the eastern side is a precipice estimated by Air. Samuel Turner to stand 8500 feet sheer. The first attempt to ascend the mountain is believed to have been that of Dr. Teichelmanu, of Hokitika, in February, 1908. In this case the climb waf attempted from the western side, but the party encountered huge precipices, around which they could find no way and gave up the task. About New Year, 1910, Captain Head, an Englishman, accompanied by Guides J. Clark and A. Graham, made another attempt from the eastern side, and reached the summit. Another ascent was made later by Mr. Samuel Turner. Although Mount Aspiring is exceeded in height by nearly a scor.e of other peaks, all these are in the vicinity of Mount Cook, end Aspiring is the highest mountain in the Dominion apart from the cluster of skypiercers around Mount Cook.

Another interesting, if less daring trip recorded during the holidays ha: been that of the Christchurch part; which crossed the Karamea country it the Nelson hinterland between Motueka and the West Coast. According to all accounts there is remarkably fine scenery in this little known tract of moutf tainous country. Dr. Macintosh Bell anc liis party, which made an exploring trip through it some twenty- years back found it big enough and wild enougl to cause them to run out of food before they were able to reach civilisation - ot the one side after leaving it on tin other, and but for some wekas killed ot the way- would have had a' very- thir time indeed. As for the scenery in the Karamea country, Dr. Bell in the bool which he wrote about New Zealand gav< a whole chapter to it.

‘lt is marvellous how great is tin variety of scenery within this beautifu area,” wrote Dr. Bell, of the Karame; country, “and New Zealanders on holi day bent, who wish to plunge ' intc the wilds may presently begin to fine that this portion of the Dominion has marked attractions. The many littleknown streams which drain the interior,” we are told, “are scenically a great interest, and give a seemingly endless succession of wild, dark gorges With forest-clad mountain sides,' bright in summer with the brilliant flowers of the rata. Often the waterfalls, sef in a background of ferns and creepers, are especially lovely, while an occasional natural bridge of rocks lends a rare charm to the sylvan scene. The view from the mountains of the interior presents a wide range of land scape. To the southward mountaii after mountain stands out clear agains the- sky as a maize of aiguille-shapec peaks, surmounting range-backec ridges, separated by deep ridges. Here Mid there mountain tarns are visible, the most conspicuous being that gem of Karamea scenery,. Boulder Lake, situated at a height of 3000 feet above Ihe sea. Eastward and- westward bare topped, forest-flanked ridges appear while in the distance on either side gleam the waters of the Pacific.”

Wellingtonians who wish to visit tht wilds, however, have no need to gc as far away as Karamea, as in thesi days of motor-cars it is quite an eas; trip for fit and active people to leaw the city on Saturday afternoon, spew Sunday morning on the top of MounHector, in the Tararuas, and be baci in town on Sunday evening. In clea. weather this makes a magnificent trij: for the view from the summit, 501 feet above the sea, extends over th whole of the Wairarapa - country, th Hutt Valley, and the city, and over - big stretch of country on the Manawat side, while in the. distance, Ruapelit, Egmont, and Tapuaenuku, in the Kakouras, lift their snowy summits hip into the skv. Nor is the interest cofined to the distance, for the moutain meadow on the summits at ths season of the year is covered wih .flowers. The motor-car does not tatfi one all the way, for one leaves it at 350 feet above sea level, and the est of the ascent is covered on foot, .rst on Saturday evening to the moutam house at about 2800 feet, and the; bn Sunday morning up over the high funfry to the summits. To some imment people the fact that blankets aw f 0 0" have to be carried up on one’s hack to the mountain house may be - Slight .drawback to the outing. To fle still 'more indolent, the fact that thy have to get themselves up on foo. to tne top may also damp enthusiasirShghtly. He: “How long have you been engaged?” She: “This time or all together ? “Do yon think motors arc ruining the voungei-generation?” “No, I think the youngt generation aye ruining the motors.” I WENT WALKING WTH A ONE. 1 went walking witha one Now as far from me As the. lovely golden= u,) > As the distant sea. Now I walk alone fld say To each neighbou, “Well-a-day, Now my love mor-dear to me Is titan were she,* ear to me, As if 1 had neverieen The eyes of her, hr she'd not been. And I would fle - Were she to coto Where I take ter Or enter room Where I expet her not, For lovely tldgs one’s wearied of Are lovelier ftgot. —David Sortor.