HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1932, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA, Sep-ember 19. Excellent weather has been experienced over the week-end, and it still continues fine and springlike, having a good effect on the pastures and early gardens. Whitebaiters hcr c have been having lea n times for the last three days. The local aeroplane is tomorrow making a flight from Waiho Gorge to Wigram AerodromQ. via Hokitika and Arthur’s Pass. In the coming season, seven peaks in the Fox Glacier region, all above 10.000 feet, hitherto inaccessible- to climbers, will ba available for climbing. They are being brought within the range of the average climber by ‘he erection of a hut on the Pioneer Ridge, 8,000 feet above sea level. Chief Guide F. D. Alack, at the Fox Glacier, is undertaking th e building of the hut. which will be the highest in the. New Zealand alpino chain. It will mlike .’he route over the Haast Pass to the Haast Hut and then to the Hermitage easier. Thi s Pass has only bcc n twice previously crossed—once many years ago and last year by Guide Alack and Miss Corry, a n English climber. The new peaks include Mount Tasman. In -he past, those who wished to attempt these climbs had t° stay at the Chancellor Hut. at the 4,500 fee:, level, but the I journey was too long for all but experts. With the erection of the new hut, the climbing time will be cut down by live hours, and the peaks will become k is expected, one of the most popular regions of the climbing territory. Last season, Guide Alack dug

out th° foundations and cut all the timber, transporting it on his back to the Chancellor Hu, r where it has been stored for tho winter. ’ He expects to have the hut built by November. So far. with the exception of the dogs of the Byrd Expedition, rlrcre have bee n no dog teams used on the Alps, but Guide Alack intends to train a fam this year to haul a sleigh up to the new hut site. lie also intends to train tho dogs to return to the Chancellor Hut unattended, as there is a ski run of four miles on the return journey. The guides expect to come down on skis, leaving the dogs to return by themselves. The first climber to use the hut will bo Miss K. Gardiner, a noted English woman who intends to spend five months in the Southern Alps. Guide Alack said to-da v hat Miss Gardiner was doing wonderful publicity work for Nc»w Zealand in England as she had lectured to the Ladies’ Alpine Club and other organi- I sations on the New Zealand Alps. Just before noon today, Air F. McGregor, when repairing a hinge ou the. door of his shop’, put in a hot bolt just made, and shotfly after went to lunch. A few minutes later a neighbour saw th e woodwork near the hinge in flames, but a bucket of water removed any danger. The “Gael” arrived from Wellington on Saturday afternoon, and sailed again yesterday for Wellington. She, is announced to leave i hat P^ r t tor Hokitika on Tuesday. The Supreme Flying Club held its second rac e for the Andrews Cup yesterday from Ross. The result was as follows: 1. Lawn’s Southern Cross. 15 Ist; 11. Scott’s “Blue Bar,” 17min, 2nd; Aerial Lofts, 3rd. Also-started: “Lucky Bird Lofts”, Nevada Lofts. Tasman LofLs. A. Andrews, G. Kerr, N. Samp son and J. Breeze. The points for the Cup a re now as follows:— J. Law n 24; Lucky Bird Lofts 15; Aerial Lofts Hi’Nevada Lofts 12; H. Scutl .10; IL Andrews 2; L. Br vze 2; G. Kerr 2; N Sampson 2 and Tasman Lofts .1. Last week’s rainfall h’Te was 2.21 inches and the sunshine recorded was' 24 hours 36 minutes. An accident happened on Saturday morning at. Higgins’ sawmill, KoktVahi, to Mr Hardy Fleming, whose left thumb came in contact with a circular saw, with the result that up to the first joiny was badly lacerated ami re(piiring several stitches, a considerable quantity of blood being lost before th 1 bleeding was stopped u ( 'xt day. The Council of the Westland Acclimatisation Society met la.> week, when there were present: Dr. E. TeichelmaniL (President), Messrs J. JMclntosh (Vice-President). A. C. Armstrong. W # Braddon, J. King, G. Perry, R. Stuart. H. Wells and the Secretary (11. W. Lodgf). It was decided ’’o grant complimentary fishing licens-es to the police officers their co operation in curtailing th e illicit taking of game and fish is desired. Mr Walt p r Thompson, or Ross, was recommended for appointment as hon. ranger. The President reported advice had been rcceiv ed of an improvement in the condition of Air! D. J. Evans. It was decided to forward a letter to Mr Eyans, expr p s sing th e best wishes of the members, and hoping for a speedy restoration to heal Ji. Mr Main Kurow, forwarded a consignment of 60,000 salmon -SS S ’ Grey Society advised that the closing of the fishing season one month earlier did not meet with the approval of their memb f rs. An anonymous correspondent, wrote about dcprcdailions of poachers i n the. vicinity of Okarito. —It was decided to hand the information to the police. Mr A. Cederman’s report on ranging activities was adopted. Southland Society advised of the despatch of 500,000 brown trout ova. In the. final of th e Hokitika Golf Club senior championship, played on Saturday afternoon, under ideal conditions. Adamson defeated Chesney, af er a most exciting game, by one up on the last green. The final was played over 27 holes, two rounds of thirteen hob’s each and an additional hole.. The following arc the figures:—First 13 holes. —Adamson: 6,4, 4, 4. 3,5, 6,5, 4 ; 4, 56. Chesney: 5,4, 5,5, 3,5, 4, 3,4, 4,5, 4,4, 55. Second 13 holes:— Adamson: 7,4, 4,6, 3, 5 f 4,4, 4,3, 4,5, 4 4, 61, 56—total 117. Chesney: 7, 4. 3. 5. 3. 6, 6. 4,3, 3, 5. 4. 4. ">—62. 55. total 117. I n the Intermediate grade W. E. Brown, who played steadier than Tomlinson won by 4 up and 2 after sinking a 25-foot putt for 3 on the 25th hole. Stark, who headed the qualifying rounds, beat Warren by 5 and 4 in the final of the junior chans-

p’ionship. The monthly bog'.-y match wad won by Father Fincrty, by a very fine round, of 1 up. and a medal score of <B5. The L.G.U. September bogey match will be played next Wednesday, players as usual making their own arrangements regarding partners. Miss Elsie Cooke has gained her L.G.U. status by playing a score of 110 over 18 holes.

The spring conditions are proving welcome in the country districts. Th'' grass i s coming On nicely and there is a fresh appearance in the paddocks. A s cows are now coming in, the grass will be needed. A. fortnight of growing weatlrar should provide plenty of feed for the start, of the season. Stock have come through the winter excep tionally Avell, in spite of the heavy frosts earlier in the season. Lambing is now almost completed in this dis-, trict, and exee'lent returns are the rule. There has been a cleaning up of the paddocks on many of the farms, and those who have been giving their land attention should benefit during the prese n (• season.