ALPINE CLUB.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 September 1928, Page 7

ALPINE CLUB.

MEETING AT KAPONGA. DEPUTATION TO WAIT. UPON PARK. BOARD. I A meeting of the general committee | of tlio Egmont Alpine Club was held •on Tuesday night at lvapoiiga There were present Air W. A. :f U>ragg feliair), Alessrs. R. E.viue, U. U. Hooker H. Swinburn, A. W. Lawn, D. pvnn, V. Gerraml, B. tlav'bittle A. Snowden, Airs. Bates and Miss *l.l age. Apologies were received from Messrs vv (t Walk lev, T. McKenzie J. 1. Murphy. G. V. Cook and Miss Hawken. A 1 report was received from the bad (r e committee, and it was decided to accept tiieir recommendation of an ice iric with a coil of rope >as a club badge. The committee is -to g'o into the matter of cost and materials. The following now members were elected. Misses M. Conway, AI. Mackie, K Long. Alessrs L. <S. Mackie, V. bolomen -P. Eaves, 0. Twist. Resignations from Air. ,1. R. Nairn of Alauaia, and AJr. Algar of Stratford weie le ccived and accepted. . 1 It. was resolved to hold the next com mil-tee meeting at Strati ord-andin-vite the members o'f the Stratford com mit-tee to attend. The question of tae hut, on La - tham’s peak was again brought up and the financial position of the club con side-red. Air. E. Synte was delegated to discuss the matter with the Egmont National Park Board, and go thoroughly into the question of possession ot the hut and its availability for club members.

Tt was decided that a special tramp should be arranged to take place on b e UOth September, on which day tlieie will be an excursion from Wellington. Mr Syme was appointed to organise trips for the tourists to different beauty spots on the mountain, with a, member of the Alpine Club as guide for each par tv. A special number ot the bulletin, will be issued, a number of which will be distributed to the tourists as they purchase tickets. A deputation consisting of Messrs. Sprang, Syme and Hooker wa.s appoin - ed ;to wait on the' committee of hhe South Park Board, and to point- out to them the necessity of going into the matter of conveniences immediately. Air Hooker pointed out that at present there is no place where climbers could go -to change into dry clothes after a trip, and that it was most important that there should also be showers for the use of the public. Already the Park Board -had collected quite a large amount in park fees from members of the club on official tramps alone, and this would entitle them to some consideration, he said

REPORT ON THE TRACK. Air. Syme stated that as a. -tramp between 'the North Egmont and Dawsons hostels had been arranged as the next club trip, he took the opportunity on August- 27th of inspecting the condition of the track. At the south entrance to the Maunganui Gorge the track was practically impassible. It had been almost completely washed a wav and there was a very real danger from falling stones from the bluff above the track at this point. These falling stones had already carried away the wire that aided Hampers. to cross this danger spot. He would therefore suggest" that, owing to the great risk involved in taking a, large party across this portion of 'the track, the trip to North Egmont be postponed until safer conditions exist. The track generally was badly in need of attention, as m many places it was rapidly being converted into a watercourse, and there are several small slips that require clearing

away. Over the five miles of track between the Kapuni River and Humphrey’s Castle there was not a single sign-post of any use to the many Hampers who cover this route, the lettering on the few existing sign posts having been obliterated long since. He suggested that the attention of the Egmont National Park Board be drawn to the need j ol* improving the condition: -of the track and erecting sign posts at points he named. He suggested that the club offer to erect any sign posts provided by the Park Board. Distances should be given, on all main sign posts. Air. Syme added that, since the. report had* been drawn up, a working bee of Alpine Club members had improved the condition of the track, especially at the entrance to the Maunganui. Gorge, so that it would not now be necessary to postpone the next' trip as originally suggested. The track was now passable but repairs carried out by the Avorking party were only of a temporary nature. While the club' was at all times prepared to assist in the work of improving the condition on the mountain, the work of maintaining the condition of the old tracks was the responsibility of the Park Board. Club members were prepared to- undertake the construction of now tracks, and had already done good work in this respect.. In the course of the 'discussion that followed it Avas pointed out that the track mentioned in the report Avas not the only one requiring attention. < The main track up the mountain was in a very bad state, and avas now, in places, just a. channel for water. It was also badly overgroAvn with scrub.

Members of ithc committee felt that the. Park Board had a. definite responsibility in the matter of seeing that the tracks wetc properly sign posted ami all the tracks were in need of attention in this respet. Poles to mark the route leading down' the mountain over the moss slopes, were required on both the Dawson Falls -and North Egmo-nt climbs. Mr. Spragg suggested that altitude signs be erected. It was stated that, although the club had written to the National Park Board, asking that the track round the mountain be improved, the matter had not been discussed at the last meeting of the board.

Members considered that the best thing to do was to appoint a deputation to wait on the Park Board in reference to it*he above matters, and this was done.