FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 8

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

EXTRACTS FROM THE HERALD. ASCENT OF MOUNT COOK. The following are extracts from the New Zealand Herald of March 13, 1882: The alpine tourists, comprising the W. L. Green and two Swiss guides, rer turned to Timaru on Saturday night, after successfully ascending Mount Cook. A camp was established at 7000 ft., neaily under the peak. Starting at 6 a.m. cm March 2, travelling by ice the whole distance, made longer bv having to mai.e numerous detours to avoid the tracks o almost incnssant avalanches, the par;-.' reached the summit at 6.20 was impossible to return to their bivouac that night, and they stood on a ledge, 200 ft. below the summit, al. nip-N •wet- through and without food._ ,'i descended safely the next- morning, _a. < reached the camp at 7 p.m., having tiee on their feet 37 hours, the last, 22 wit on. food. The ascent is not- difficult as tiir as climbing is concerned, but it extremely dangerous, on account ol tnc almost incessant _ avalanches which re' down the mountain sides. During Mr. Rolleston'j late visit t° Tauranga the settlers interviewed h> !n on the subject of the contemplated I"> 9 of railwav or tramroad between Tauranija and Rotorua. Mr. Stewart asked tn« the required land for its formation s h c 'j ho handed over to a company that wo"l in addition to the line, form a settlement of 2000 people on a combined planThey asked no money of the Governnien, only the land on condition that they should construct a railway and form a settlement. He said truly that such a. line would be of great importance 1 Rotorua as well as to Tauranga. !. would be a branch of the line Opotiki. The narrow gauge would - 1 preferred, as cheaper, and more suited t the country. The hon. pcntlfrn.i expressed the highest approval of 1 plan, and promised it the most favourable consideration when formal appl lfa tion was made. f Roderick Mclean, who made an atte™! _ on the life of the Queen on March 2, to-day committed for trial on a char* of high treason. At a meeting of delegates from v^ r '? 1 trades societies on Saturday a resolu i< was carried stating that " there is uice need for the working classes to co bine to resist any encroachment on t hours of labour and with this °"J ec view it is desirable to hold a demons « tion in favour of the eietht hour ° a -\. A protest was also carried against u proposal of the Government to resu assisted immigration on the raising the next loan.