NAMING OF PEAKS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 24 March 1931, Page 15

NAMING OF PEAKS

ASCENTS IN THE TARARUAS

A correspondent, "Trainper," states that ho is very interested in articles which have appeared in "The Post", on tho subject of new routes in the, Tararua Range, but points out that asi no complete account is kept of trips made by mombers of the Tararua Tramping Club or by tho general public (including deer-stalkers and surveyors) it is a matter for conjecture whether any peak in the Tararuas has boon climbed previously or not. The peaks, he goes on to say, are not such as to warrant records being kept of their ascents, and claims to first ascents cannot be substantiated. A large area of the Tararuas was surveyed in connection with the Mangahao scheme, and this necessitated the climbing of many peaks. There are also many trampers not members of the Tararua Tramping Club whose activities and.climbs in the region are not generally known. "Names have been given to many peaks by trampers visiting this country," tho correspondent concludes, "and I should like to know whether these names havo any recognition by the Survoy Department." The position is that tho names of all new peaks must be approved by the Geographic Board before they are included on official maps. Many peaks throughout Now Zealand were named before the establishment of the board, mostly in commemoration of the men who made the first ascents or of others prominently connected with mountaineering. The board is always consulted when a change of name is being considered. An experienced tranvper and mountaineer told a "Post" reporter that the peaks in the Tararuas were not regarded as being- of any importance. a?hoy did not involve any height or j anything difficult in the way of climbing; in fact, they wore little more than hills. Making a new traverse of the range was a different matter. It involved a good deal of hard work and skill in path-finding and deserved somo veeognition.