TRAMPERS MEET.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 May 1938, Page 6

TRAMPERS MEET.

LEVIN-WAIOPEHU CLUB.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. With an attendance of over twenty members, the annual general meeting of the Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club was held last Aveek. The President (Mr. N. M. Thomson) occupied the chair, and apologies for absence Avere received from Messrs P. JT. Moxham and I’. J. Ramsay. Annual Review. The President read the folloAA'ing report; “The most pleasing feature of the year's Avork, which it falls to my lot to review, is the strong financial position in Avhieh the club finds itself. Commencing the year Avith a sum of just over £l2, avc ended it with a credit balance of ovhr £23. This improvement is due to the result of the Avell-organ-ised Kapiti trip, to a competition conducted during the year and to the profits from a private dance, organised and conducted by Misses Y. and M, Harvey and O. Mexted and Messrs A. Harvey and A. Coles, and Avhieh they Avere kind enough to donate to the club funds. We appreciate their generosity very much. Our thanks are also due to the sub-committee Avhieh so splendidly handled and organised the Kapiti trip. This Avas the largest ever conducted by the club, and apart from the weather Avas easily the most successful. We also tender our grateful thanks to property owners, Avho have so freely given members permission to cross through their properties. In this connection I Avould refer particularly to Messrs C. Adkin, A. J. Gimblctt, A. M. Colquhoun and Horace Smith (Wellington). ‘ ‘ The usual number of trips Avere held during the year and average attendances recorded. Wc were honoured in February by the executive of the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand holding its quarterly meeting in Levin, and on the Sunday the members Avere. taken by the club to the Makcrctu Stream.

“Some work was done during the year on the new Waiopehu track, but I regret to say that it is becoming increasingly difficult and for the moment, pending a comprehensive survey, operations have been suspended. A new track could be made, but the opinion is gaining ground that it is beyond the man power available in the club. We do not receive the support we should from non-members, who will be quick to use the track when completed. Unless the deer stalkers and others come forward and assist, I can see very little hope of the track being completed for some time to come. The Ohau track and hut are in good order and the club equipment in a satisfactory condition. “Though the year - has been quite satisfactory ,the club still seems to fall short of what it should be. At present there is not the personal contact between members that I would like to see, and for the most part they only meet at committee and annual meetings, ; while the same half dozen or so represent the club on the various trips. I am wondering ryhether we could not do something along the lines of social evenings once a fortnight, the club renting a room, equipping it with ping pong tables and having lectures on ! tramping and outdoor subjects every j month. The advantage of this would j be closer and more frequent contact between members, the benefit of hearing ia lecture form the tramping and mountaineering experiences of others, perhaps alpine and mountain photographic exhibitions, a mountaineering library! and so on. Last but not least such evenings wmuld afford an opportunity of teaching members something of the principles of safety climbing, use of the alpine rope, ice axes, etc., so that when ice and snow conditions are encountered members will be familiar with the necessary technique. “ Election of Officers. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President; Mr. N M. Thomson; Vice-Presidents: Messrs G. L. Adkin, E. S. Lancaster, W, Hansom, E. J. Eamsay, A. Eillens, G. C. Prance and W. 11. Walker; club captain: Mr. A. Harvey; hon. secretary and treasurer: Mr. G. H. Kerslake; assistant secretary; Mr. R. Meddings; executive committee: Misses L. Meddings, 0. Mexted and J. Goldsmith, Messrs T. A. Kerslake, A. Ramsay, A. Coles and D. A. Malcolm. General. Pour new members were nominated and elected. It was decided to w r rite to property owners, thanking them for the concessions extended during the I year to members of the club. The question of organising monthly social evenings was discussed at some length, various members speaking in favour of it. Finally a sub-committee was appointed to ascertain whether the project w r ould receive the support of members of the club and if a suitable room could be obtained for the purpose After pointing out that the trip t) Waiopehu was an excellent one and the .track an asset to the town and district, Mr. Prance said there were avenues which could be explored with a view to rehabilitating it. He mentioned the possibility of securing subsidised labour to carry out some of the I work and of obtaining the assistance of the two interested local bodies. The meeting decided that the committee go into the question.

The following trips were arranged: May loth, Waiopehu track to make a survey of the work necessary; May 2Sth-29th, Ohau Hut and Confluence; June 19th, Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay.