A HIKING JAUNT

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 182, 29 April 1933, Page 7

A HIKING JAUNT

Surprise Visit of Two Girls d’URVILLE ISLAND VISITED Two enterprising AVellingtou girls— Hilda Dryden and Ruth Tanner —planned at Easter time a surprise visit to a friend of theirs, who lived at d’Urville Island. They decided to set out, complete with "hiking” kit, and when they arrived ou the mainland, walked to the sheep station of their friend, Mrs. Harold Hope. The ‘‘hike’’ was accomplished with great success and secrecy. The girls caught the Nelson boat and transhipped into a launch in the early hours of the morning for the French Pass. After a rest and some food, they again set out by launch for d’Urville Island and Kapowai, where the post office is. It was amusing for them to find, en route, that their arrival was no longer a secret. Although Mrs. Hope was quite unaware of their visit, everybody else was and greeted them as the ‘‘surprise party.” They left Kapowai and set out on j foot over the bush-clad mountains for Alanuakupikupi, where the Hope’s have their farm. This was a most interesting walk through dense bush with lovely birch trees, carpets of kidney fern, and native trees and ferns of every description. The bell birds were so tame that they followed the girls for a long way, pealing out their silvery note and asking for tit-bits. After 3J hours of steady walking they arrived in the secluded bay of “Kupikup,” as it is called, and surprised their hostess. During their stay they walked all over the island, calling at Greville Harbour, where they saw Airs. Alan AVoodmau, late of Lower Hutt. At all the places they went to they received most generous hospitality. The two girls were dressed in heavy boots, one in riding kit and the other in sensible breeches and warm sweaters, and they both carried a full-size pack. On being asked why they decided on such a holiday, they replied they just felt like it, and they went without plans or worries, and had a marvellous time.