TRAMPING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 21218, 27 September 1932, Page 1

TRAMPING CLUB

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT The committee of the Otago Tramping Club, in its ninth annual report, states: The year just ended proved one of the most successful in the history of the. Club. Large attendances, particularly on Saturdays, have been the rule, and the various trips included in the fixture lists have enabled members to explore most of the interesting places around Dunedin. Last year’s Labour week-end trip was to the Bencloran Huts, where a party of over twenty spent a very pleasant time. We acknowledge with thanks our indebtedness to Air Malloch for permission to occupy these huts. For the first, time a camp was arranged for the Christmas holidays, and twenty-two members spent a most enjoyable ten days under canvas at Lake Oban. The weather was favourable, and the party had several walks and climbs in new country. Three members continued on up the Huxley Valley and made two or three ascents in that region. The Easter trip was to Kycburn. Diggings, another district not previously visited by a large club party. The twelve members who took part in this trip thoroughly enjoyed their stay, and made the most of their time. The programme consisted of climbing Mount Buster and Mount Knobbler, and a visit to Dansey Pass, while several of the ladies received instruction in tlie methods of prospecting for gold. The hospitality shown by Mr and Mrs Forward, of the Pass Hotel, added considerably to the enjoyment of the trip. During the year the City Council has taken over the control of tlie scenic reserves on Flagstaff and Mount Cargill, and has been given power to plant trees on both areas up to a height •of 1.500 ft above sea level. We observe with regret that an effort is being made to construct a motor road to the summit of Flagstaff. Our rlub is opposed to tins suggestion, and lias forwarded its protest to the City Conned. In our opinion a good walking track from the Wiinre Flat road to the top of the hill would provide a means ,of access more in keeping with the surroundings, mul would enable almost everyone to enjoy the view from the summit. A vast amount of good work in the interests of tramping and mountaineering lias been done during the year by (he Federation of Alonntnin Clubs of Now Zealand, particularly in the direction of obtaining concessions for tlie different elnb members at various holiday resorts, stimulating tlie interest in ski-ing. and collecting information re huts and reserves throughout the country. AVe have to thank the federation for it successful efforts to have tlie Howden and Homer Huts repaired last summer. Monthly socials were again hold during the winter, and attracted good attendances, but the reduced charge for admission requires still larger numbers to balance expenses. Our thanks arc duo to Messrs L. W. APCaskill and J. S. Thomson for two most interesting lectures, and to the Social Committee for arranging programmes for the remaining evenings. In view of the greater popularity of tramping and the large number of people engaging in this pastime, wo wish to emphasise once again the necessity for members to exercise the greatest care when on their outings, and to keep to the high standard set by the the club in regard to the preservation of private property and native hush and birds. We regret to record tli£ doaili of Mr W. S. AUConueli, who was a member of the committee during the 1930-31 season. We learn with interest of tlie recent formation of the Otago Ski Club, and extend to it our good wishes for a successful future. I