ALPINE CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 4, 5 July 1922, Page 9

ALPINE CLUB

MOUNTAINEERING EXPLOITS INTERESTING SERIES OFLECTURES. Mountaineering has a fascination all its own, a glamour which draws even the to worship at the footstool of towering mountain peaks, to admire, even if they are not prepared to scale those same peaks in the footsteps of the men who know how, and this spirit probably impelled the very large attendance which, last evening, filled the Conference •' Hall at the Dominion Farmers' Institute, to listen to a lecture, or series of lectures, delivered by Messrs. A. P. Harper, Malcolm Ross, and T. A. Fletcher on "Climbing in the Southern Alps.", Amongst . those present, were the Governor-General, Viscount Jellicoe, Mrs. W. F. Massey, and Miss Masey, Sir Donald and Lady M'Gavin, Sir John and Lady Findlay, Mr. and Mrs. Drew, Dr. and Mrs. Hislop, and members of the Alpine Club and their friends. •Mr. A. P. Harper was the first lecturer, and in common with those who followed, he. was assisted by a'number of very interesting lantern slides. He dealt mostly with the western slopes of the Southern Alps, where the roughest, forms of glacier, ice are to be seen, and where the wonderful combinations of bush and ice are such a feature of the scenery. 'Such well-known names ,as the Franz Josef Glacier, Graham's Saddle, Tasman Glacier, Fox Glacier, Mount Cook, Mount Sefton, Mueller Glacier, and numberless others—known to those who climb, but only names to those who are content to remain on the plains below—were dealt with, and illustrated during this part of the lecture. "Mount Sefton and the Mueller Glacier," said Mr. Harper, "will one day become the favourite haunts of tourist and traveller,. and the surroundings; are worthy of their worship." He referred to the fact that he, in company with Mr. Douglas, years ago, had spent eight months in trying to solve.the problems of the snowlands of the South Island. Ho concluded by telling several humorour stories of the kea, New Zealand's only parrot, and a most inquisitive bird. Mr. Malcolm Ross next took the platform, and described the majestic scenery of the Hermitage side of Mount Cook. He told of his Nearly experiences on tha mountains, and showed slides of many historic camping places used from 1882 onwards. He referred to such famous climbers as the Rev. W. M Green, Jack Clarke, Peter Grahamj Lowe, and many others. in» some cases exhibiting photographs: of the climbers. The slides shown also included that of some very difficult country traversed, with gigantic hummochs in' ghostly ice-> fields of rugged surface. Many of the photographs must have Ueen exceedingly difficult to secure.

•The concluding portion of the lecture was in the hands of Mr. T. A. Fletcher, editor of the School Journal, who, for the past five years, with a' party, has made an annual pilgrimage to the peaks of the Godley. The country he dealt with, although perhaps not so majestic as that of the higher peaks, yet included some imposing snow scenery and panoramic views of peak after peak in an almost, endless chain, stretching into the far distance of the picture. The Bealey Pass and the Scone Stream provided ample evidence as to the beauty of the scenery, and the difficulties involved in scaling its heights. The lantern was operated by Mr. H. Milne, and to him a portion of the success of the evening must be ascribed, „-'"■ ■'. -..'....■....■.•■•-

At' the, conclusion, Viscount Jellicoe expressed his appreciation of the three lectures. He paid particular tribute to the great feats of endurance referred to and to the enthusiasm which had resulted in the collection of the magnificent photographs screened. He asked that the audience should express their approval by acclamation, a request which met with loud response.' ■