THE PROPOSED ALPINE CLUB FOR NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6342, 16 March 1882, Page 5

THE PROPOSED ALPINE CLUB FOR NEW ZEALAND.

SPEECH BY MR. GREEN. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CitRisTCHURCit, Wednesday. Ix the course of his remarks advocating the establishment of an Alpine Club, at the dinner given to liim last night, the Rev. Mr. Green said one of the chief tasks to be undertaken by an Alpine Club was the placing of huts in favourable positions for the use of climbers. Much of the money raised from the subscriptions of the English Alpine Club had been spent in this way, and he and his companions had greatly felt the want of such aids to their late expedition, having to carry great weights in the shape of tents, &c. A few huts could be built at a slight cost in the neighbourhood of the Godley, Tasman, and other glaciers, and about Lake Tekapo. They would open up an enormous field to mountaineers. But caution must be impressed on young members of a club. There should be rules, and men should be taught by them what dangers could be overcome, and what should of necessity simply have to be avoided. He (liil not see why an Alpine Club should not be set on foot in Christchureh, and young men occupy their holidays in exploring the fastnesses and glories of their mountains. The chief thing was to avoid aiming too high at first. The Alpine Club of England set a very high standard, much higher, indeed, than those founded upon its model—in fact, he himself had "done" everything in the Bernisc-Oberland that was to be "done" before ever he became a member of the Alpine Club. The great thing was to stir up a common subject of talk, to raise some esprit ih• rorps, to meet, read papers, have an annual dinner. There was plenty of excellent rock climbing to be done on their Alps before ever the snow and ice work was attempted, and such would gain them a. splendid stock of experience, worth much when acquired by degrees in this practical manner. He hoped that the time was not far distant when all those great peaks, Mounts Sefton, Tasman, &e., at present unsullied by the foot of man might be eoiujuered.

Both Mr. Green and his guides were warm in their praises of the hospitality they had met with.