EGMONT ALPINE CLUB

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 March 1931, Page 5

EGMONT ALPINE CLUB

THIRD ANNUAL MEETING. YEAR’S OPERATIONS REVIEWED. The annual general meeting of the Mount Egmoiit Alpine Club was held in Hawera last evening, when the president (Mr L. O. Hooker) presided over an attendance of 40 members.

Mr W. G. Walkley, chairman of the Soutli Committee of the Egmont National Park Board, and also patron of the club, was welcomed by the president. Mr Walkley referred to the excellent work done by the club during the season and forecasted that many improvements would be made in the near future on the mountain. While not wishing to he committal in bis statements, Mr Walkley stated that the services of the unemployed at Dawson Falls would be further used and there would be a ski track beside the hostel when heavy snow fell. Mr Walkley also referred to the erection of a motor track above the hostel, which was now being considered. 1 ANNUAL REPORT.

“During the year some very interesting club evenings were held,” stated the annual report, “lectures being given by Messrs R. Syme and A. H. Larkman, hints on first aid by Dr. Sinclair, an evening on movie cameras by Dr. Buist, and two movie picture evenings by Mr Zinsli and Mr White, while Mr Bert Murray read a very interesting paper on mountain dangers. In May Mr John Moore, artist, presented the club with two very fine colour drawings of the mountain. Thanks are due to them and to the directors of the South Taranaki Winter Show Company for their kindness in giving free use of the club room. “The work of erection of the Syme Hut was completed early last April. The consummation of "this work was due to the interest and energy of those members who undertook the carrying of materials and equipment from Dawson Falls to the hut site. The offiical opening took place on Easter Sunday, and the day established a record for the number of people who visited Dawson Falls and the number of motor cars parked for the day. There were 600 people and approximately 140 cars on the southern slopes. About 300 of these people climbed to the summit of Fantham’s Peak to take part in the official opening of the Syme Hut, which was performed by Mr W. D. Armit, actingchairman of the Egmont National Park Board. Our club was represented by the president and a large number of members. We feel sure that the naming of the hut met with the .general approval of members, who regard it as a distinct compliment to the energv and interest shown by our club captain in the project. NOTEWORTHY CLIMBS.

“While quite a lot of climbing has been done on Mount Egmont during the year, we feel that we must mention the efforts made by three of our ■club members during the Christmas holidays. Messrs Syme, Mace and Bryant spent several weeks in the Mt. Cook region. In spite of almost continuously bad weather during their stay, they climbed Mt. Haidinger, made the. first traverse of Grey Peak and traverse of Navara, The Twins and Mt. Johnson. They also ascended two unnamed and previously unclimbed peaks, one rising to a height of 8350 ft on the Malte Brun Range and another 9850 ft on the Haast Ridge. Later, when Mr Mace Iliad returned to duty, Messrs Syme and Bryant made the traverse of the three Anzac Peaks and made the first ascent of Mt. Tasman by the eastern route and the traverse of Mt. Lendenfeldt. “The usual programme of threeweekly trips was maintained during the season, and in addition two special trips were undertaken which are worthy of mention. The first was that held at Dawson Falls on June 14 and 15, when over 150 persons, represent; ing the Ruapehu Ski Club, Taranaki Alpine Club, and the Mount Egmont Alpine Club, spent an extremely enjoyable week-end. and the other was the trip to the North Egmont Hostel on August 2 and 3, which was made at the invitation of the Taranaki 1 Alnine Club, whose members did everything possible to make our stay a very pleasant one. HEALTHY FINANCE.

“An examination of the figures in the balance-sheet discloses that the club is in a very healthy financial position. While the excess of income over expenditure for tl\e current year is only a nominal amount, it will be noticed that there is one item of nonrecurring expenditure of £l6 17s 6d, for transport paid for members in connection with the Syme Hut. Our accumulated fund now stands at £149 10s lOd. “The matter of the formation of a federation of the mountain clubs in New Zealand was keenly supported by our members. Messrs ' Hooker and •Syme represented the club at the preliminarv conference. The scope of the federation is large, and can further protect the interests of alpinists throughout the Dominion. Our club has nominated Mr Vosseler, of Wellington, to he the first president.'

APPRECIATION OF SERVICES. “We desire to express our appreciation for the generous support and help received by the club from the South Committee of the Egmont National Park Board. We also wish to thank our chief guide, Mr Murphy, at Dawsou Falls, and Mrs Murphy for their many kindnesses, and at the same time to express the regret of members to Mrs Murphy in her long illness and

trust she will soon be restored to her' usual health." “During the last year a number of new tracks have been opened up around Dawson Falls, and we find that these have particular attraction and interest for our older members who are unable to take on the more strenuous climbs. The new track to the tussock line cut by Mr Murphy is a distinct advantage to climbers of the mountain, and we trust that the ..time is not far distant when this will be formed into a motor track.

“It has been decided that a special trip will be made to the Franz Josef Glacier at the end of this year. This, we are sure, will be interesting news to all members, especially as the Christmas trip in 1929 to Mount Coolc was such a huge success. “The thanks of the club are extended to Mr L. O. Hooker for his work in connection with the bulletin, to' Messrs S. F. Prosser and R. Syme for their care of the library and records and the committee and officers.” The balance-sheet showed a credit of over £6O, which, together with the ■clubs’s assets, gave, an accumulated four! of £149.

PRESIDENT’S CONGRATULATIONS

The president, in moving the .adoption of the report and 'balance-sheet, stated that the profit was small, but he iDointed out that there were' several items which were non-recurring. He congratulated the photographic, committee upon the work they had carried out iii placing photographs around the walls of the clubroom-. - Mr .Hooker also referred to the work which was done at the recent Federated . Alpine Clubs’ conference at Wellington. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Officers were elected as follow: Patron, Mr W. G. Walkley; president, Mr L. O. Hooker; vice-presidents, Miss M. Southcombe, and Messrs W. A. Spragg, H. W. Swinburn and A. Carty (Wellington); club captain, Mr R. Syme; vice-captains, Messrs JB. Haybittle and H. N. Murray; chief guide, Mr J. P. Murphy; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr T. F. McKenzie ; auditor, Mr A. K. Fyson; publicity officer, Mr L.. Q. Hooker; committee, Misses E. Buist, M. King, and J. Powdrell and Messrs D. Ryan, S Prosser, H. Snowdon. T. Lay, A. W. Lawn, J. Palmer, G. Oliver, S. Phillips and G. McGlashan; photographic and social committee, Mrs H. W. Swinburn,-- Misses S. Lovell, E. Buist and M. Southcombe and Messrs S. Phillips, T. Lay and J. Palmer. New members were elected as .follow : Misses ■ Sturtevant (Auckland), I. Hughes (Manaia) and P. Gannaway (Hawera), Messrs J. Fraser, G. Madgwiclc. G. Wake, B. Purser (all of Hawera). R. Hill and C. Harding (Kaponga) and A. Blackman (Eltham). . GENERAL.

Considerable discussion took place on the question of adopting a club blazer. It was decided to communi-* cate with the registrar of patents and copyrights in connection with the registration of club colours before the blazer would he chosen. An honorarium was voted to the secretary (Mr T. F. McKenzie). The question was raised by Mr D. Ryan of holding more week-end trips/. There were people who preferred trips of less strenuous nature to mountain climbing. . The club captain said that the programme committee had already discussed this matter, and a -similar trip to that which was made up the Wanganui River recently was intended before the summer ended. It was decided to subscribe £2 -2s to the Federated Alnine Mountain Club. ‘