A WEEK ON THE TARARUAS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 March 1925, Page 3

A WEEK ON THE TARARUAS.

With the Interest revived in the Tararuas by recent events it is timely to recall that for the past 25 years the mountains at Levin’s door have been the subject of exploration by local residents, while belore that they were traversed by the Maoris and surveyors. The first ascent -of Mt. Dundas—tiLcr the surveyors—wag made by Aiessrs Lancaster and France, of Levin, and w'e publish below their account of the journey as published m Levin on February 7, 1900. Later, m February, 1909, Messrs Lancaster and Adam made the first crossing ol the lararuas to Masterton. Commenting on the fact the Wairarapa Age of that day remarked: “Surely some of our mountaineers on this side will be disposed to follow' the lead given them Irom Levin and conquer the Taruruas exploring tire western as well as me eastern side of the ranges. Some day no doubt these will be well trodden pathways between Masterton and Levin, now that two pioneers have shown that the (rip across is practicable.’*

Thu account ol the ascent of Dundas in 1900 was as follows.-

Messrs Ernest ,S. Lancaster and It. P.. Franco, who have just spent a holiday climbing the mountain peaks at the back ol Levin, supply us with the following interesting account of their trip.Leaving the new Gladstone Hoad, tiie route lay up the valley ul the Ohatt. For several miles Die river flows timing!) a deep defile at times confined between high rockv walls, wal.erworn and polished U> ’ a great height, showing the great volume of water which rushes through the gorges at flood time, some pretty pools overhung by ferns and rocks were met with which, would handsomely repay a photographer’s visit. A glorious cattle: limit wound up the first day’s journey, a mob of six being met. with in tiie river bed, one heller being brought to book. The first night out was spent hi camp on a spur on the oilier side of Waiopehu.

A st;iit was made at six nrxl morning and after a. stiff climb to the top of ti high range covered with lawhero and hie usual mountain scrub it was found that there, was still a deep wide valley to cross which lay between us and Hie Tara.ruas proper. On reaching the bottom a fair sized over was found (lowing northward which turns out to be the Mangahao. The second camp was pitched tip the side of Ml. Dundas in the last of the birch bush whore three days and nights were spent waiting for a favourable opportunity. The hush gets smaller and smaller up the side of the mountain, dwindling from 12 and 10 feet high to eight, then six, in even graduations, all thick and bushy, making it a matter of difficulty to get through it. When it got shoulder (high it was impossible to make much progress and a dav was spent cutting a track which made the final ascent much easier.

The gradual diminution in size of the Trees up the mountain is a feature there, 'they vary from no higher than the boot top near the summit to knee deep lower down, tffi ; waist high, until they become ordinary bush. The varieties on the mountain are unknown on the Hal. Several beautiful (lowering Ishrubs were met with.

As morning broke fine, a start wa ; made at daylight and the view was a magnificent one as it gradually unfolded itself. The bold curve -of (he coast northwards with the mouths of the Rangitikei and Turakina rivers was a striking feature, .livery detail on the Levin flat cquld he seen distinctly, and also the country to as far as Paekakariki, the hilly country on the Last Coast, and a glimpse ol the Forty Mile Bush and the country near Mauriceville. The view on this side was not so good on account ol clouds. The railway whistle ceuld be heard on both sides of the ranges. There is a small trig firmly planted on the top of ML Dundas. The centre pule has been shivered by the lightning, the iron guys evidently saving the rest. Three names were carved on the trig: J. iM itch ell, Fred Dorset and W. Knox, the first bearing rhe date ol 187 M. While we were uddmg two more mimes a sudden mist enveloped Hie mountain, leaving no tiling- visible but the pinnacle uf ruck on 0 which wc stood and making the task of keep the spur back to to the camp a work of difficulty. There is a spring about iim I eel from the summit from which (be billy was tilled. The smoke uf the fii'e on which it, was boiled being seen from Levin, [used, life was numerous right to the summit, butterllies and grasshoppers, and the common blowflies being just as numerous as on the fiat. Iheie were also many pretty flowers giving among Hie‘mosses. The actual travelling time to the snmmil from the Dladstone road was 111 hours, the return journey taking Id hours. . ... A look out. was kept lor the big laM which is supposed to be up among t'he mountains, but nothing was seen of it.