TASMAN CHALET

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 148, 26 June 1933, Page 11

TASMAN CHALET

OPENING CEREMONY

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

THE HEEMITAGE, June 24,

. Overlooking some of the finest glacial scenery in the world, and at present the headquarters of large winter sports parties,-the Tasman Chalet, built on. the' edge of the moraine of the Ball Glacier, fourteen miles from The Hermitage, was officially,opened this afteruooiv by the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. D. G; Sullivan, M.P. Formerly known as the Ball Hut, the -starting place of many outstanding mountain conquests,..the Chalet is a marked improvement on the previous building, which has been extended to over-twice the 'size, and is now equipped with ninety-nine bunks and every facility. ' . The official ppening wa's attended'by about 130 people,'and an informalday was spent in the .snow country in perfect conditions.

Mr. K. L. Wigley, managing director of the Mount Cook Company,, said he considered that the regiSn was the coming skiing ground v'os the Dominion, lie urged support for a strong South Island organisation .to bring about wider interests in the South Island in scenic beauties. .

Declaring the Chalet open, Mi-. Sullivan complimented -, Mr. Wigley and his company on their enterprise and their efforts to popularise winter sports. He said he hoped a South Island: organisation would be formed to make greater the, appreciation of the Cook area and the Southern Lakes. Referring to' the new building, Mr. Sullivan said the old Ball Hiit was erected in- the vicinity in .1891. It was the starting place for 'the first ascent of Cook by the Rev. Mr. Green, and had housed other personalities whose names were indelibly printed in the _ pages of mountaineering in the district.