A PEAK OF MOODS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 February 1925, Page 4

A PEAK OF MOODS.

EXCITING CLIMB ON EGMONT. Mount Egmont is essentially a peak of moods (remarked the Auckland Star). Maori tradition says that he has always been temperamental, and removed himself leagues distant from his brethern of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro because he could not agree with them. To-day he alternately sulks behind fog or smiles in sunshine with a kaleidoscopic rapidity that cannot be forecast even by “the oldest inhabitant.”

A party of Aucklanders who returned from Taranaki this week had an experience on the snow-covered cone that they will riot easily forget. They began the tseent in the early morning when the peak shone crystal clear in the dawn, and everything promised well Tor a successful climb. From Fantham’s Pealc the landscape view was a glorious one. the whole of the country looking like a great chessboard of varieM green. No sooner had the snow been reached, however, than clouds came up from the sea and circled the peak with a thick blanket of fog, which speedily intensified into a snow blizzard. Egmuiit’s famous “downward puffs” of hail and sleet rendering upward progress dangerous and uncomfortable. Tlie party persisted, however, and hacking their way up through ice, at. length reached the crater. Here three of the party collapsed, and had to be revived and encouraged to attempt the return journey. No sooner nad this begun when nine of the partv slipped on the ice and spi;awled bend downward on the slope. 'Fortunately the rope held and the three members still upright had firm grip with th- 3 ice nx«s, and so were; able bit bv bit to raily tlie line. It was an-anxious moment in the freezing cold arid driving sleet, and was particularly trying to the more nervous of the party hut, after various experiences, thev worked orradually down through the fog, and after a seven hours’ absent reached the Mountain House in safety with memories ofa few thrills that will last a lifetime.

BUSINESS NOTICES. The Egnront Tourist Motors Ltd. will run their “White” *’hus to Opunake beach to-niorrnw (Sunday). i «T. C. Smith will hold a. sale of household furniture and sundries on account of Mrs Betts, who has let her house, on Wednesday next, the 18th inst., commencing., at 1730 p.m. The sale will be held at the house. Camberwell Road (corner of Surrey Street). .T. C. Smith will hold a sale of fruit, furniture and sundries on Monday, the 16th inst., at 2 p.m., as per .advertisement elsewhere in this issue. Re advertisement: The Hawera. Mineral Water Company have just received a further consignment of special Orange Smash. This delicious drink was selected by Mr Thomson, of Thomson. Lewis and Co., of Wellington, in preference to any other orange drink on his recent tour of the world, and we are informed that the Orange Smash has now the greatest sale of any orange drink in New Zealand. The Mineral Water Company have been appointed sole agents for the district. Our manufacturer was for sixteen years manager of one of the largest aerated water factories in England, and all our drinks are made from the best materials procurable, and are true to label. Procurable at all shops, or the company will deliver to any part of the district.*