AERIAL RAILWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23067, 18 June 1938, Page 14

AERIAL RAILWAY

MOUNT EUAPEHU PLAN ■' I 0>; SURVEY BY DEPARTMENT" ACCESS TO SKI-ING GROUNDS The construction of a funicular or aerial railway to convey visitors to the ski-ing grounds Oh the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, at National Park,, is likely to be undertaken shortly by the Public Works Department. Departmental engineers have made surveys during the past few weeks to determine the best route and it is considered that the conveyor, which will be about two miles long, will be electrically d/iveu and mounted on concrete pillars. It is expected that, if the scheme is adopted, it will closely follow the lines of the aerial ropeway which it is planned to construct at an estimated cost of £30,000 to open up the mag. nificent snowfields that feed the Franz Josef Glacier, in the South Island. Here, four huge pylons are to- carry the wires, along which the carriage, capable of holding 10 persons, will'be hauled by electric power. The journey now takes two days, but by aerial ropeway it is expected to require little more than half an hour. Project Mooted in 1936 A similar proposal for the National Park was mooted in 1936 when the project was raised by Mr. Colin Wyatt, the noted English ski jumper, and Mr. T. W. Mitchell, captain of a visiting Australian team of skiers, who discussed the question with the general manager of the Tourist Department, Mr. L. J. Schmitt. .It was their belief that the provision of a funicular railway would make National Park "a really first-class ski-ing resort." If the scheme is carried out, it will serve to make the popular ski-ing ground near the Salt Hut, on Mount Ruapehu, easily accessible and it will eliminate the present necessity of tramping more than half a mile up the boulder-strewn mountain side from the point to which the motor road has penetrated, about two and a-half miles above the Chateau: Possible Start This Year While it is hoped that a start may be made on the work at Mount Ruapehu this year, the construction of the pylons and the necessary power reticulation will require considerable time. As a result, the Public Works Department is assisting in the provision of a skitow and it is expected that this may be available next month. For a distance, of about 100 yards skiers will be drawn up by the rope which will be just above the Salt Hut. The rope will be hauled by a heavy motor engine and there will be the facility for lengthening the ski-tow to 200 yards if it is required.