TRACK-MAKING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1930, Page 6

TRACK-MAKING

AND SUBSIDY COVER

FAITH PROVED BY WORKS

TARARUA PLAYCIROMD

With a ■membership, of 330, tho'Tnrarua'Tramping. Club has more- than pulled its weight in the uphill task of developing the Tararuas. Not only is it blazing new tracks (for instance, the Akatarawa-Bcnata-Kapakapanui group, recently illustrated by map in the "Evening Post"), but it has been mainly instrumental in building 'accommodation huts in high country, and some of its tracks have proved so useful that the. Government is converting them into pack tracks. A LABOUR EQUIVALENT. The club must contribute out of its finances money to cover its share in ivorks that tho Government has subsiuised. Tho money cover is not always easy to find; and it is interesting to note that' when the club has been short of money its members have not been afraid :to thomselves provide equivalent labour, .. so' that a. subsidy shall not be lost for. lack of .cover. For instance, to tho credit of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society be it said that ■ tho society, recognising the valuo of the club's tracks, offered subsidy at the rate of two to,one (SI to 10s). How the club's funds ran short, and how tho society accepted from club members, an equivalent in labour, resulting in the tracks mentioned above, is thus set out in the club's annual report: "We have also to thank the Wellington Acclimatisation' Society for a j grant of £50, originally offered on a £1 for 10s basis, for track-cutting purposes. The demands on our finances (drawn on to cover Government subsidies) precluded us from taking immediate advantage of this offer. But with a keenness that is to be commended most highly, mombers of the club offered voluntarily to undertake track-cutting work during week-ends, provided that tho club would assist by finding portion, of tho transport and food charges. .On the Acclimatisation Society being approached their assent was readily given to tho grant being expended in this fashion, the labour of tho workers being accepted as the club's equivalent for the subsidy. As a result we are pleased to report that a good walking track has now been cut from the Akatai-awa road to the 'Dress Circle, via Eenata, with a branch track extending to -Mount Kapakapanui, and a further track has been cut from the Cone Saddle to the top of tho Cone. The thanks of members are due to Mr. G. B. Wilson and those members of the Hutt Valley Club and our own club who have assisted him for ..the fine ■ work they have- done on these tracks." ' ONE OF THE FINEST. . Tho annual report :also expresses thanks to the Government for hut subsidies: "We are pleased to be able to report that the representations made by your executive to the Government have been most successful, two subsidies having been authorised on the 1929 Estimates, one of £.230, &i for £1, being for a hut near Field Peak, and one of £.150 on the same basis for a hut in the Tauherenikau. Arrangements were immediately set in train for an early start, to bo made on the bigger job, and a contract was finally let to Mr. J. H. Gibbs for the erection of this hut. The job has now been completed, and the hilt, known as the Kime Memorial 'Hut, -'was officially opened on the Ist of this month by our president, Mr. D. B. Hoggard, in tho presence of a representative gathering of members of the Manawatu, Hutt Valley, and Tararua Clubs. The thanks of members' are due to Mr. Gibbs for tho excellent manner in which he has carried out this work, resulting in otir now possessing at an altitude of approximately 4500 ft in the Tararua ranges one of tho finest high-country huts yet erected in the Dominion. A start has also been made with the erection of the hut in the Tauherenikau, and this should be completed within a few weeks. As will be seen from tho statement of accounts, our finances havo been practically exhausted in taking up both of the; above subsidies, but it is hoped that by the transfer of the club-house fund, and with tho promised financial assistance offered by tho Hutt Valley Club, to whom our thanks are due, the position will be adjusted early in, the New Yoar. We are of the opinion that the erection of these two huts are landmarks in our progress, and that, as the years roll on they will be used increasingly, the Kime Hut as a local centre of all kinds of , winter sports, and the Tanherenikau as one of the most popular bases in the handiest and most varied tramping country adjacent to Wellington.". • - On the Tauherenikau and Waiohine slopes of the Tararuas development has also been proceeding: "The walking track cut by the club last year up the Tauherenikau and over to the Waiohine has engaged the attention of the Forestry Department, who have utilised some of the unemployed in converting this into a pack track, which has been completed as far as the Cone Saddle and will possibly be extended to Totara Flats and Holdsworth this summer. It will thus be seen that considerable progress in development work has been done this year, and we feel that'the club may justly congratulate, itself on having 'done so much towards the improvement of the means of access and the making available of facilities for the better enjoyment of our wonderful natu-1 ral playgrounds by all who have the j health and strength to take advantage- of them." WAYS TO THE CONE. j In the June issue : of the "Tararua j Tramper" this Tauherenikau-Waiohme country is the subject of some interesting notes by GJS.W.: "Situated on the ridge between Beeves and Hector, the Cone, 3547 feet has been climbed-three times by club members. One party made the through trip to Hector and Otaki, but this is very strenuous, and up to three days are required. Two parties havo climbed the Cone- in the weekend working from the Tanhoremkau. "\ winter ascent, under heavy snow conditions, was made recently, and a cold tramp was rewarded with a magnificent view of Alpha and Hector and the main ■. Tararua range from a new angle. The Tararua peak, with its showy mantle, showed up to great advantage, and the Cone appears to be the best point from which to obtain a good side view of this interesting part of the range. The Cone is quite feasible aa a week-end trip for energetic members. Saturday ni4t would have to be spent at the top Tauhcreniknu Hut, and, after an early start nest morning, the top would be reached in from 2* to 3J hours without packs. Two routes are aV"m Proceed up the main Waiohine track as far as tho top of the Cone Saddle. Instead of going downhill to the Waiohine, turn along tho top of the ridee to tho west and keep on uphill until the blazes are encountered. A pood walking track has been cut by club members from the Cone Saddle to the top. State Forest boundary marks branch off down tho sides and should not be confused with the track. "(2) A moro direct but harder route 1« as follows^ Ten nnntites or so up

river, past the point where the Waiohino track finally leaves the Tauhereaiilcau fiats for the Cone Saddle, a big creek comes ; iu on tho right. The spur on tho west side, between the creek and the. main river, should be taken, and this will connect with tho track higher up. "Tho return from the Cone to the hut takes about two hours or less, and the long tramp back to Kaitoke has then to bo faced. The Cone can also be climbed from Sayer's whare, on the Totara Flats, in the Waiohine."