AERIAL ROPEWAY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 13

AERIAL ROPEWAY

Novel Transport To Scout Camp

ROUGH COUNTRY CROSSED

To transport supplies to the spot they had chosen for their Christinas camp, far off the beaten track in rough country near Ohariu, the First Ngaio Scout Troop used novel means. Though the site, Kelly’s Clearing, is very near Wellington, plentifully supplied with good water and wood and sheltered from the wind, very few people know it or visit it because of the distance from the roads, and the type of country that has to be negotiated to reach it. The transport of stores is only possible with a tremendous amount of labour and the assistance of pack horses or rope hoists across the gullies. As a new experience for the scouts rope hoists were employed and the site was reached without much difficulty. Rope, pulleys and hoists were erected across two gullies. The first gully was 400 ft. across and the second approximately 300 ft. The boys got a thrill out of this part of the journey and eagerly watched their own gear being transported by thio novel means. The distance between the two gullies is approximately a quarter of a mile and proved fairly easy going for the boys who. had to carry all gear between the two hoists. The equipment was arranged in bundles of convenient size to insure no boys being overloaded.. The last stage of the journey was covered in good time as the packs, gear and stores were unloaded near welldefined sheep tracks which, though far above the creek and on the side of hills, made travelling reasonably easy.

On the return journey a rope broke when food for that day’s dinner and tea were being transported across the widest and steepest gully. Unfortunately the mishap occurred when the load was midway across and the stores fell directly into the water far below. Some goods were salvaged and some stores had been held in reserve at the Scout Whare at Ohariu, so no one went short of food. It was intended to open the camp on Boxing Day, but in view of the weather, only the ecouter in charge o c the camp, Group Scoutmaster, S. Gardiner, District Commissioner P. R. Thomag and one or two of the senior scouts paraded on that day, to erect tents. _ The younger boys were driven to Ohariu. by cars on the following day, by which time the weather had cleared. By the time the younger scoutg arrived the rope? had been arranged across the two gullies. A “camp fire” was held the first night. On December 31 visitors were received and sports were held, the previous afternoon having been spent in arranging fords across the creeks for the visitors’ convenience, and that night neighbouring farmers were invited to a “camp fire” for which the boys arranged special entertainment. The 20 scouts, including a few from the Khandallah troop, who attended the camp were divided into three patrols, which were given marks for the-tidiness with which they kept their surroundings and their kits. Top marks for the camp were secured by the Ru Ru Patrol, under Patrol Leader Eldon Dandy. Scout Harry Carr was voted the most popular boy nt the camp. A number of scout books were awarded to boys as prizes for various) achievements, being the gift of Major S. F. Ray, who has interested himself in the scouts of the Hills District.