ALPINE CLUB PROJECT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 March 1928, Page 5

ALPINE CLUB PROJECT.

PARK COMMITTEE IS SUPPORT. * PROPOSALS REVIEWED. That the proposal for the establisuinent of an Alpine Club representative of the district was favourably viewed by the South Committee of the Egmont National Park Board was evidenced at rhe meeting of the committee held at Manaia yesterday, when the -proposa 1 was- outlined by Mr Rod Syme, who is one of the sponsors of the movement.

“All that has been done so far in the direction of forming the club is to call a meeting, which is to be held at ITawcra on Monday night, but. the indications are [that support 'will be forthcoming from all parts of .South Taranaki," said Mr Syme in intro lacing the subject to the committee. The lack of some such organisation •had long been felt by those who appro , elate the asset that Taranaki has in Mount Egmont as a tourist resort am l as a health giving playground for the younger people, continued Mr Svme. It was hoped by the formation of the club to obtain' further facilities for climbing and the enjoyment of winter sport and it was hoped that the club M-culd bo able to co-operate with the park committee. The club could assist the committee almost immediately in the work of opening up tracks on the mountain. POSSIBLE SKI ING AREA. The biggest feature of tiie' project however, would be the erection of a hut on Fantham ’ s Peak. This was considered an essential part of any scheme for the organisation of climbing and winter sports and evidence that it, would serve a further useful purpose had been given last year on 'lie occasion of the accident to climbms in the vicinity of Fantham s Peak. There appeared little doubt that a hut could be erected in the vicinity, a suit, able site havjng already been inspected. Its erection would ’help to develop the area in thv vicinity of Fantham’s Peak as a ski-ing ground. Slti-ing was the main attraction at Tongariro National Park and the same comment, referred to Mt. Cook, the biggest a + - tendanees at both resorts being during the winter sports period. Such an in.-stitu't-ion on Mt. Egmont would undoubtedly help to popularise it. A further direction in which the club would probably seek the co-oper-ation of the committee was in the matter of further accommodation at the mountain house. The chairman of the committee (Mr W. G. Walklev) said it appeared quite certain that the Alpine Club would be formed and he considered it should receive the support of the committee. Mr A. V. Tait endorsed the chairman’s opinions and similar comment was added bv Mr .Tas Hickey. Replying t’o Mr R. G. Cook, Mr Byrne said a suitable hut at Fantham’s Peak would be a two-roomed structure similar to those on Mt. Cook. The altitude wa s 6.600 feet. During the coming winter ho hoped to get information concerning the depth of snow on the site and further possibilities of the proposal. Air G. .T. Bayley said that, the objects of the proposed club and the commit too were one and Ihe same in the matter of adding attractions to tinresort.

A round table discussion ensued dining which the project was favourable reviewed, the chairman concluding the discussion with the opinion that the co operation of the committee would be given to the club.