EGMONT NATIONAL PARK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 May 1927, Page 2

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK.

MEETING OF SOUTH COMMITTEE. A meeting: of the South Committee of the Egmont National Park Board was held at Eltham yesterday. There were present: (Messrs T. B. Crump (chairman V B. C. Lycaght, I. J. Bridger, A. V. Messana, C. J. Belcher, C. Goodson, A. Gamlin, Ei. Long, W. G. Walklev. and A. R. Bates. THE EGMONT FATALITY. Before proceeding with the routine business of the meeting, the chairman moved the following motion : — t That this committee place on record its sorrow at" the recent tragedy on Mt. Egmont. resulting in the loss of the lives of Messrs Fenton Latham and Noel Baines, and expresses to the relatives of the deceased gentlemen and to the principal, staff and students of the Wanganui Collegiate School the sincere sympathy of its members and their sense of the great loss sustained by the bereaved families, and by the Collegiate School.” The motion was carried in silence. FINANCIAL POSITION. A statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ending March 31 was presented by the secretary (Mr N. H. Moss), which showed,: — Receipts.—Balance brought forward, £221 14s 3d; park fees., £706 17s 6d; rent from hostel, £125 11s; Publio Works subsidy (balance for 1925-26), £23 8s ; local bodies subsidies, Hawera County Council (1926-26) £7B, Hawera Borough Council (1925-26) £2B, Maauaia Town Board (1925-26) £2, Eltham County Council £54 10®, Eltham Borough Council £9 10s; total, £1249 10s 9d.

Expenditure.—One half park fees (J. P. Murphy), £353 8s 9d; road maintenance, £9O Os 3d; repairs and renovations of buildings, £165 Is 3d; insurance, £26 15s; traffic ; phone (attendant’s allowance), £7 lOs-; stationery, £7 Os lOd; sundries, £7 4s 2d; secretarv’.s honorarium, £25; transfer to overdraft (interest and' reduction of principal). £2BB 4s 8d; balance to credit, £279 4s lOd.

The chairman said if was gratifying to note that park fees had for several years shown' an annual increase. From the year 1920 the receipts from this source for each succeeding year totalled £502. £397., £426, £539, £616, £669 and £707. Expenditure on road maintenance had decreased during the past three years. The percentage of collections was higher ifa the smith than in the north division. The prospects of a surplus for some years were promising, the operations of the year just ended having been successful in this respect. The overdraft account had been wiped off. On the motion of the chairman and Mr Bates, the' statement, as presented, was approved for incorporation in the Park Board’s balancei-sheet. SUBSTANTIAL CREDIT BALANCE. An announcement, by the secretary of a. credit balance of £3OO in the committee’s bank account provoked a lengthy discussion as to disposal of a portion thereof. Mr Walkley proposed that £2OO be placed on fixed deposit for twelve months and regarded in the light of a nucleus of a, building fund. Mr Bridger sounded, a note of warning, .suggesting; that the committee might regret locking up the money. He favoured deferring the question for a time. Mr Long said the money could be placed with. the Stratford Borough Council. .An amendment to Mr Walkley’s motion, proposed by Messrs Bridger and Bates, that £2OO be placed at call with the Stratford Borough Council, at, 5 pot- cent, was carried. HOSTEL REQUIREMENTS. Mr Long urged the appointment of a visiting 'committee to regularly report to the committee on requirements at Dawson Falls Hostel. The chairman pointed out that there was a proposal on foot to hold meetings of the committee at the hostel, which, if adouted, would permit of members obtaining first-hand knowledge of what was required there. Mr Bridger said the old house was in need of repairs, and improved l conditions generally, which could be effected by the expenditure of a .small sum. ■ It was resolved that the next meeting of the committee be held at the hostel, and that members of the West Committee be invited to attend. Mr. H. Murray, of Elltham, suggested the installation of an emergency rescue outfit at the hostel. Mr. Walkley stated that another prominent member of the search party had suggested that the committee should provide a stock of climbers’ apparatus for hiring to mountaineers. Messrs A. V. Messana, G. P. Cook, and B. O. Lysaght were appointed to confer with Mr. J. P. Murphy in the matter of requirements in this direction, and the secretary was instructed to ascertain the cost of ice axes and alpenstocks. On the motion of Mr. Walkley it was resolved to. purchase an emergency outfit of appliances', consisting of first aid outfit, .six ioe axes, two or three ropes, a mountain stretcher, four sets of ice clamps, and three benzine lamps. RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY. Mr. N. H. Moss, who has ably filled the position of secretary to the committee for the past five years, .tendered his resignation, which was accepted with regret. The chairman land Mr. Lysaght spoke in terms of high appreciation of the energy and ability displayed by Mr, Moss in the position. Two candidates were put forward to fill the vacancy caused by the secretary’s retirement, Mr. H. G. McDonald (Eltham) being appointed.