UNIQUE GATHERING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 135, 8 May 1933, Page 2

UNIQUE GATHERING

MISSING TRAMPERS AS HOSTS. HELPERS ENTERTAINED. On Saturday evening a unique dinner was given in the banquet room or Messrs CoJlinson and Cunninghame, Ltd. The hosts were the missing Hampers, and the guests were representatives of those who had assisted in the search for them. The unusually largo gathering was composed of men and women from the Wairarapa Tramjring Club and Masterton Search Party Committee, the''Manawatu. Tararua, Massey College, Apollo, Leviu-Waiopehu and Victoria College Tramping Clubs, as well as representatives from tne nrivate transmitters and citizens of the district who had given their aid. Mr L. H. Collinson presided, while Mr A. R. MclCegg took charge of tlie musical side of the programme. A long telegram was received from the -tararua Club regretting that they could not have more representatives. After the toast of “The King had been duly honoured, Mr Collinson rose to propose the toast of the Hampers. In lighter vein he said they had made one psychological error. They should have arranged for one of their number to be carried out dead. Continuing, he regretted the absence of Mr O’Keefe, who was in hospital, and added that he wanted to give , s personal appreciation of the cool-head-edness and endurance of the Hampers. In face of terrifying hardship they had illustrated wliat could be done with the human body when it was controlled by minds that could not be affected by 'starvation or panic. He felt proud to be sitting at the same table with them. Mr Brockett, of the Masterton Search Party Committee, following Mr Collinson, said he knew the Tararuas and he knew the weather conditions, and only extraordinarily able Hampers and physically fit men could come through such ail ordeal alive. After the singing of “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows,” the Hampers made their reply. Miss M. Williams created the most profound impression of the evening m a few sincere but effective words. “For what you and the general public have done for us, in deep humility, 1 thank you.” Mr Eric Hill, the leader, in a short speech also expressed his gratitude to the search parties .and others who had willingly helped. Dr W. B. Suteh, in quiet tones, added his appreciation and expressed his regret that the people of New Zealand had been put to so much mental suffering on their account. The public, in their response to the call for aid, “had lived up to the highest traditions of the human race.” Ariel- the club roll call, a spirit of good-humoured friendliness was veryevident: Dr Suteh, in a felicitous speech, proposed tho toast of the Wairarapa and Carterton Tramping Clubs and the Masterton Search Tarty Committee. He voiced a warm appreciation of their activities. His nnal words were ‘-Tramping Clubs were made for fools like me, but only God can make a tree.” Probably tlie tree to which Dr Suteh referred was a supple-jack or leather wood. Mr Russell, Mr Selby and Mr Brockett, all of the Wairarapa, responded to this toast and gave ail interesting, light-hearted account of the inception of the Search Tarty Committee. The toast, “The Searchers,” was proposed by Mr R. Andrew Fuller, secretary ot the Manawatu Tramping Club. He made special mention of the wireless operator at Te Matawai, Mr Gabriel, who had stuck to his post fifteen hours a day, and to Mr Zotoft for his leadership of the Manawatu party. Dr Yeates, of Massey College, replied to this toast. He referred particularly to Miss Ivy l’ascoe, who had braved the storm and the waist-deep mud to get to Te Matawai and had stayed there in the cold for a week, cooking for the searchers; to Mr Hopwood who had worked mgnt and day for them, and to Mr Andrew Fuller and his mother, Mrs Fuller, who liad done invaluable staff work m Palmerston North.

Mr Don Scott, in proposing the toast of the Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club, made humorous reference to the reasons why his party had gone into the ranges. He himself knew that the party were pretty tough and he had not worried about them, but what he did remember was that he had lent Dr. Sutcli a pair of pants and he did not mean to lose those. Mr Arne Larsen, ex-Mount Cook guide and referred to as “the human pack-horse,” replied on behalf of the Levin Club. He said he was handicapped by having to speak in a foreign tongue, but his speech was very apt. He assured the company that the searchers had a good time. He knew; he had carried up their food. In speaking of his own effort, he added that he, like everyone else, “had done what he could.” The toast of the Manawatu and Tararua Tramping Clubs was proposed by Dr. Sutch, who took the opportunity to' express his personal thanks to them for all they had done. He also wished to thank the amateur transmitters, Post Office Telephone Exchange and the police for their sympathetic, uncomplaining, sometimes *unoticed co-operation. Mr A. C. Zohrab, in his reply, said that as a school friend, University contemporary, and late colleague he had become quite used to answering Dr. Sutclr. In more serious vein he added that every tramper had liis own reasons for tramping, but the incident under discussion showed that tramping brought forth the qualities of endurance and self-sacrifice which mankind had always regarded as being among the noblest of virtues. He concluded his speech by proposing the toast of “Other Tramping Clubs,” making special reference to the Massey College, Apollo, and Victoria College Clubs. Mr McMeaclren, of Massey College, and Mr G. Trewick, of the Apollo Club, replied to their toast, Mr Trewick remarking that he did not recognise the well-groomed people in front of him as the bearded bush-whackers he had met a week ago. The final toast of the evening, “Mr and Mrs Collinson,” was proposed bv Mr Eric Hill, who made feeling reference 'to what these two had done to make it possible for the Tramping Party to extend thanks to the searchers.

The dinner ended by searchers and searched for joining hands in singing “Auld Lang Syne.”

During tit evening, songs were given by Miss M. Penketli, Mr A. McKegg, Bliss Walker, Miss Day and the assembled clubs. Miss M. Muirhead was the accoiupaniste. The following telegram was received from the Tararua Tramping Club:— “Sincerely regret inability of members to make trip to-night. Please accept from, Tararua Tramping Club for yourself and party heartiest congratulations upon your fine performance under extremely adverse conditions; best of health for the future.—H. E. Anderson, president; T. C. B. Wilson, hon. secretary.”