MOUNTAINEERING WITH A CAMERA

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1922, Page 9

MOUNTAINEERING WITH A CAMERA

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY. There was a record attendance of members of the Wellington Amateur Photographic Society, members of the Tararua Tramping Club, and others at Mr. F. W. Vosseler's illustrated lantern lecture, "Mountaineering 'with a Camera."

The speaker, who was introduced by Mr. A. S. Mitchell, dealt with the scenery of the mountains, rivers, ; forest, and coast close to Wellington, with particular reference to our national parks. He said, that few realised what a compact little place New Zealand was, and what great variety of scenic wonders were available within short distances. Members of the Tararua Tramping Club had many enjoyable trips, which cost them very little. For instance, trips to Marlborough Sounds and Tongariro National Park cost each member do more than 10s per day, inclusive of all travelling expenses. The Tararua Tramping Club endeavoured to get to places that were, off the beaten track, where riatura? features were in their original state. Contrary to general belief, there were endless good walks in the immediate vicinify of most of our towns. Taking Welling-' ton as a starting point, it would be impossible to make all the trips in the fiftytwo Sundays of the year, particularly if one took in short train journeys. There were hundreds ol tramps, and some to very beautiful places—viz., the Tararuas, Gollan's Valley, Wainui, Pukeriia, Mount Fitzherbert, back of the Moonshine, Karapoti, Akatarawa, Reikiorangi, etc. From any: of these points there Were at least five "'walks. There were also numbers of night walks—from Thorndon-quay to Khandallah and back via Kaiwarra Islnnd Bay to the Red Rocks and back; from Karori tram terminus down South Karori, Wireless Station, etc. . .

The trip to ' Tongariro National Park last August was described and illustrated. A party of thirty (fourteen of whom were ladies) left; ,Waimarino for the Whakapapa cottage, from which they did many walks in the 1 snow and ice,, including a climb of Ruapehu. After a' week's .practice it was possible for some to ski for a mile without falling. Ngauruhoe'.was a' difficult winter climb, and steps in the ice had to be cut. If the cutting of timber in the Park Was continued, it meant that the place would be to a large extent destroyed. Mr. Vosseler also remarked on heather being sown in the Park, wjiich, if it was not uprooted, would in a few years' time have taken charge, and the old flora will have disappeared. He also protested, against the neglect of Kapiti Island and the destruction of the'bush on the river banks of the Wanganui. The lecture was illustrated by many views of the mountains, and was greatly enjoyed by all present. A hearty vote of, thanks was accorded Mr. Vosseler. Mr. A. J. Bland and Mr. Milne were in charge of' the lantern, and many of tho lantern slides were lent by members of the Amateur Photographic Society.'