SKI CLUB OF AUSTRALIA

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6942, 22 June 1929, Page 11

SKI CLUB OF AUSTRALIA

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND

Arrivals by the Maunganui from Sydney this week included Messrs. L. C. Stephens, R. H. Allen and Ivater, of v.lie Ski club of Australia, on their way to Mount Cook. When the Ski club of Australia was formed in 1020, the opinion was expressed that, as ski-ing became more universal in Australia, the time would arrive when the annual meetings of the club might, be bold in the Victorian Alps, in those of Tasmania, and even at Mount Cook, in New Zealand. Tlieso three enthusiasts, two at least of whom have passed tho third class test of their club, are hoped to be the advance guard of one such annual gathering. One of the original vice-presidents of tho club, Mr. David Maughan, K. 0., is a well-known figure at Mount Cook, his visits dating back to the time of the old Hermitage, when mountain lovers whiled away evenings round the cosy fires of a low corrugated irou hostel huddled under the shelter of the

old lateral moraine of tho Mueller Glacier. As president of the Great Public Schools’ association, the Australian Ski Year Book says: “He did much to turn the minds of youth to tho wonders and possibilities of ski-running in Australia.’’ No ono who has met Mr. Maughan can believe that he would go time after timo to Mount Cook without telling others of the sport he enjoyed. Wo may bo sure that the Ski dub, since its infancy, has been told of tho enormous snowfields and glaciers of the Southern Alps and of tho limitless opportunities for winter sports offered by this rogion. The Ski club of Australia has now a membership of over 100, and tho New Zealand tourist organisations concerned arc fully alive to tho importance of Mr. Stephens’ visit. Every endeavour is being madQ to onsuro tho success or tho trip, and it is the hope of New : Zealand ski-runners that next winter they will meet at Mount Cook a substantial party of skilful Australian competitors.