THE MATHIAS DIVIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20979, 16 September 1931, Page 11

THE MATHIAS DIVIDE.

NAMES FOR NEW PEAKS. DISCOVERERS HONOURED. MOUNTAINEERING CLUB'S TRIP. Following an unguided expedition to the head waters of the Mathias River made in January last, the members of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club concerned sent in recommendations for names for new,peaks to the Lands and Survey Department. Advice 'has now been received that the names submitted have been approved by the Geographical Board, and will accordingly be placed upon the key map of the Mathias district. Although the parly made fourteen first ascents on the Mathias Divide, and two on the'"Agassi/. Range, only four of the peaks were unnamed, so that the pioneers' privilege of suggesting names was limited. It was felt that the names of the discoverers of the Mathias Pass should be honoured because these men crossed the divide through love of exploration for its own sake, and with no hope of reward. In the eighties a pack-track was constructed by Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson to the Mathias Pass. Parts of this track still remain to help the climber to negotiate the steep bluffs of the Agassi/ Range past the Canon Gorge. The peaks of the Mathias Range are notable for the absence of leading spurs, and the steep sides of the valley are comparable with the Milford Sound district both for grandeur and for difficult climbing. Deer Crash Onto Rocks. The names of the new peaks, and their descriptions, are as follows: — Gerard Peak.—A main divide peak, fixed on the county map at 6695 feet. The name was chosen to commemorate the work of the late W.' Gerard, jun., a discoverer of the Mathias Pass. Treachery Ridge.—A formidable series of bluffs and outcrops that gave the party access to the Mathias Divide. Deer were seen to fall from the ridge and to be broken on the rocks below. Precaution and the use of the rope saved the party from a similar fate. The ridge faces the Cape Foulwind spur, and between the two lies the Canon Gorge of the Canyon Creek. , Mystery Peak.—A main divide peak of 6800 feet, which lies between Mounts Kai-iwi and Bryce. Owing to the horseshoe formation of the divide in this locality the peak could not be seen by the Westland Geological Survey, and so does not appear on their map. Mystery Peak is a fine silver snow-wedge, and the name is in keeping with its environment. Ornatane Glacier. —This glacier is the source of the Mathias River proper, and it forms a gigantic amphitheatre, surrounded by the five divide peaks of Shafto, Harrison, Kai-iwi, Mystery and Bryce. The geological surveyors named a gorge in the Hokitika River (Westland) the Omatane Canyon, so that the name correlates a fine glacier and an historic gorge. Urquhart Peak. —The highest point in the Agassiz Range. It is some 7100 feet high, and is prominent from the Mathias riverbed. The peak is named after the present manager of the Mount Algidus run, Mr. W. A. Urquhart. This peak affords one of the best views to be had in the region, and was climbed by the loose rock ridge of the Upper Cape Foulwind spur. A Noted Shepherd. Comyns Peak. —A peak of 6800 feet on the Agassiz Range, lying due east of Mount Marion and W.N.W. of Urquhart Peak. The peak' is named with respect to the late Alfred Comyns —a shepherd with a genius for exploration, who led discoverers of the Mathias Pass. Comyns attempted to stock with sheep the inaccessible valley of the Hokitika River, and referred to this valley as "Siberia." Comyns Peak is a prominent feature, due south-west from the Mathias Pass. The Unknown Col.—'The upper Mathias River saddles with the westernmost branch of the Unknown River, and this practicable pass is approached by the Omatane Glacier on the west and the Stewart Glacier on the east. It must be noted that the col is nnt a divide pass, but forms a pronounced break in the Rolleston Ranee. The name is singularly appropriate, because of the double association of (he "Unknown" —an unreported pass_. at the head of the Unknown River —a Wilberforce tributary.