A LADYS EXPERIENCE ON PIRONGIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8538, 11 April 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

A LADYS EXPERIENCE ON PIRONGIA.

Pxkoxoia is a mountain range in the Waikato, rising to the height of more than 2000 feet above sea level. The township of Alexandra, situated on the Waipa, close to the foot of the range, is one of the prettiest villages in the district. I had been visiting a friend who lived some distance from the mountain, and had been promised a trip to the top of Pirongia as a great treat before I returned homo. We were bub a small party until we got to the township of Alexandra, but there we were joined by another contingent from a neighbouring village. We were rather late in »starting, owing to one gentleman taking' too long a time over his toilet; bub this rather pleased us, as it is generally the poor ladies who get blamed for that sort of thing. Some godless young people of the vicinity named our expedition " The Hen Picnic Party"a most ungallanb expression—bub I am glad to say that on this particular occasion we proved ourselves better than a good many specimens of the opposite sex. Certainly we outnumbered the gentlemen by about three to one, but that simply shows that there is nob enough gallantry amongst the gentlemen of our acquaintance. Leaving Alexandra at about eleven o'clock under the guidance of a young lady who had made the ascent several times before, we gob over the ground pretty quickly. Crossing the Waipa, threading some narrow lanes almost overgrown with furze, we cantered across a paddock or two in capital spirits, although the weather looked rather dull, and we were" afraid we should nob get a good view from the top. Coming to some very broken ground leading down to a small creek, we insisted upon dismounting, and our gentlemen attendants were kept busy for a short time in helping us down, leading down the horses of those too timid to lead their own, putting us up again, &c. However, ab last all were abtended to, and we prepared to ford the stream. One of our escort gallantly led the way, forcing his fiery steed through the rushing water in a way that excited our admiration, and we (the hens) followed in much more humble fashion, reaching the other side in safety. Our way now lay across a small tableland, from which we had a good view of the mountain, then down a small valley, and then began the gradual ascent up a path, along which we were obliged to go in Indian file, and which ran through a mass of tea-tree and furze. Gradually, as we rose higher, the tea-tree and furze gave place to scattered trees, and in a short time we arrived at the edge of the bush, which covers the mountain from base to summit. The ride through the bush was very enjoyable, especially so to me, as I had nob visited a bush for a long time; but it was ratWr. bard on out horses

in somo places. The track was pretty good, but in places trunks of largo trees lay across the path, and the scrambling over them was not altogether pleasant. After a good hard climb of an hour and a-half wo reached the camping place, called the "Tracker's Rest," about half-way up the mountain, and here we tethered our horses, and proceeded to make, a liro to boil the " billy" for the tea, or rather, I should say, our escort did that part of the business, whilst we arranged the tea-table, using large ferns for a tablecloth; and very nico it all looked when it was set out. The water for the tea was got from a beautiful little mountain stream which rushes past at a short distance from the camp. As we sat and enjoyed the various good things our friends had provided, I thought what a pretty picture could bo made from the materials to hand—the members of our party sitting round our noveltable in mostunconventional attitudes, the beautiful bush scenery all around, our horses standing quietly amidst the trees, and a small patch of sky above us, whilst the noise made by the small stream I have mentioned dashing over the rocks made music for our ears as the scene gave pleasure to our eyes. After allowing a roasonablo time for rest and refreshment, we started for the top on foot, one gentleman kindly volunteering to stay behind to look after the horses and get some more tea ready for us when wo came back. All honour to the men I say, for they are very useful indeed —at times. The weather had changed for the worse, and a drizzling rain was falling, but we didn't feel it so much as might bo expected, owing to the shelter of the bush ; but still we got more than enough to make us wet and uncomfortable. The way was long, the weather was warm, &c, and climbing mountains is hard work, so that before wo got to the top wo were pretty well tired. How we managed to get to the top it is hard to say; but we struggled bravely on, resting occasionally, and then pushing on again, our motto being "Excelsior." We went right up, even unto the second and highest peak of the range, and when wo got there we had the immense satisfaction of seeing plenty of—clouds. There they were all around us, cloud upon cloud, but nothing else could we see. Once, indeed, when the clouds parted for a moment, somo thought they could distinguish the hazy outline of another peak a short distance off, but others declared we dreamed it, for that they saw nothing. On a fine, clear day 1 am told the view is magnificent. Tongariro and Ruapeliu can be plainly seen. We were, of course, disappointed at being unable to see anything, but took comfort in the thought that wo had been to the top, even if we were not fortunate enough to get a good view. Climbing up was nob easy work by any means, but coining down was a great deal worse, and the sudden way in which wo would sometimes sit down was much more laughable to the others than enjoyable to ourselves.

! Of course we couldn't think of going on a picnic without attempting to collect ferns, and,'in spite of the wet, we managed to get a fair number, amongst them some fine specimens of the beautiful kidney fern, which urosvs abundantly on the higher parts of the mountain. On coming back to where we had left our horses we wore very pleased to find that the good man left iu charge of the camp had got some hot tea ready for us; wo were, in fact, so delighted that he narrowly escaped hugging for his thoughtfulness. Mow, between the bush and the little creek we had crossed in tho morning the track was rather difficult to find—at least we found it soand we had been in hopes of getting over this part of the return journey before dark, when we could have found the way without trouble, but it was a very different thing finding it in the dark. However, we pushed on as fast as possible, following the track as well as we could, and eventually found ourselves near the creek, it is true, but we could find no crossing-place, and tho bank was thickly covered with gorse, which said gorse appeared to bo in a particularly healthy statemuch too healthy for us to attempt to force our way through it. Then a grand council of war was held, and, as might be expected, opinions differed as to the way we should go—some thought wo ought to go up, others down the stream. Eventually it was decided that we should all get off our horses, and that three of the party should go and hunt for the track, whilst the others held the horses, I offered to go as one of the exploring party, but to ray regret my offer was not accepted. Two ladies and one gentleman went in tho search party. How thankful we were at last to hear the explorers shouting to us to join them need not be said. They thought they had found the place, but were not quite certain, so some of our party went down to give their opinion on tho subject, whilst others lit a fire to let anyone who might be looking for us know our whereabouts. After some time tho leaders returned with the good news that ib really was the place we wanted to find, and it can be imagined how delighted we were. You could almost hear the cry of "Saved! Saved !" which arose in our hearts and thumped against our breasts. _ Then 1 volunteered to cub fern to keep tho fire alight whilst the horses were led down the cliff, and I had the honour of being the last to descend, and of making a refractory horse descend, too. The moving spirit of the party was a lady, and she was in great demand ; now here, now there, cheering the tired, encouraging the frightened, and putting hope into the despondent. Without her, I am afraid we should have been in a bad way, indeed. She it was who found the track, and who first walked down the terrible cliff; then, after helping two of the gentlemen down, she led most of the horses down, and even went as to sacrifice the lining of her hat for tho good of the party, using ib as a torch to find tho fording place. Our best thanks are due to her for her exertions in our behalf —she deserves a medal. When once down by the ford we wero quickly helped on to our horses, and were soon on the other side, and after climbing another rather steep place we, with a little trouble, found our way acrosss the paddocks, and soon struck the Alexandra road without further accident, beyond one gentleman trying to make a bed of a furze bush and a lady losing her cloak. We found the good people of Alexandra had come to the conclusion we were lost, and were even then organising a search party to look for us. When we reached home both my friend and myself wero quite tired out, but very thankful that wo had not to spend the night in the open air, as at one time seemed probable. Kihikihi. T. H. Chapman.