The Traveller.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1037, 15 January 1892, Page 16

The Traveller.

MOUNT EGMONT. A HOLIDAY RESORT. By J.W. Having recently made tho ascent of Mount Egmont, and having derived from the tripan : immense amount of enjoyment, a description of the experiences of our party may not be without interest, and will. I hope, serve as an inducement to others to take advantage of the opportunities for a very enjoyable holiday afforded by a few days in that neighbourliood. It will bo interesting to those who can only obtain a short holiday to know that such a pleasant excursion can be made within the limit of four or five days, and at a very slight expense. Starting from Wellington by the early train, on Tuesday or Friday, it is possible to reach Inglewood or New Plymouth the same night, spend the two or three intervening days in making the ascent, and return to this city by the next through train on the following Friday or Tuesday, as the case may be. It Ts immaterial whether tourists take the train from here to Inglewood or to New Plymouth, as the mountain can be reached with almost equal conveuience from either place ; bub as Inglewood is some eight or ten miles nearer by road, some time might bo gained, and, perhaps, a slight expense spared, by stopping at the former place and beginning the ascent from there, and it would not then be necessary to get up so early to catch the train on the return to Wellington. Our party, consisting of five gentlemen — hailing from Wellington, Dunedin, and New Plymouth—began the journey from the latter place, where we had been spending our holidays, at eleven o’clock on 29th December, in a light waggonnette, just large enough to hold ourselves and our baggage. The start was not promising, as it had been raining all tho morning and was still doing so, but we determined to risk it, and derived what hope wo could from the assurances of the local weather prophets that it would clear before long, and be a fine day on the morrow ; and events justified their prophecy, for the rain soon cleared away and the sun came out, and we were able to enjoy the drive along the well metalled road leading towards Inglewood. Tho snug little farmhouses on either side and the numerous beauties of the country were ■ duly admired —the well-grassed fields, dotted J with the picturesque clumps of bush, which 1 the settlers have had the foresight to leave here and there on their farms, looking very < lovely after the refreshing rain, which, how- ( ever undesirable to holiday makers, was 1 nevertheless, much appreciated by the country <■ people. Turning off the mair. road some i three or four miles before it reaches Ingle 1 wood, we drove along a well formed but f unmetalled road to the radius line of the £ forest reserve, which extends round the base i of the mountain, passing on the way the f residence of Mr Peters, the obliging custodian t of the accommodation house lately erected on t the slopes of Mount Egmont. * Those intending to take advantage of the f accommodation provided at the ‘ Hut, as it c is called, should interview Mr Peters on the e way up. On arriving at the radius line — t some eighteen miles from New Plymouth 1 about two o’clock, the waggonnette returned to 1 town, and we shouldered our swags, weighing a from 201 b to 30lb apiece, and continued the c journey on foot. Tho distance from the c radius line to the * Hut ’ is four and a half £ miles through heavy bush, along a track from I four to five yards wide, which we found, 1 owing to the recent rain and the constant i traffic of bullock teams sledging material for ] the building, to be in a very muddy state. ] As the result of our* experience we should I strongly advise intending tourists to take a < packhorse to carry their baggage right up to i the ‘ Hut,’ or else to make the whole journey < on horseback, in which ease the ‘ Hut ’ could i be reached without having to get off the 1 horses. The track, however, will improve as < the summer goes on and the sledging of ' building material is stopped. If there should , be any ladies in the party they should certainly be provided with horses, unless the track is reported to be in very good order, for the walk over four and a half miles of muddy bush road, with a gradual ascent all tho way, is extremely fatiguing. We found it especially so, weighted a 3 we were with our swags, and by the time the ‘Hut’ was reached we seemed to have traversed twice the distance, being compelled to cross constantly from side to side in order to avoid the worst places, and freq uently having no help for it but to go straight through, and, as a consequence, sinking at every step almost to our knees in thick, black mud. This part of our trip we found by far the most tiring, unused, as most of us were, to exercise of this description—but, in spite of our fatigue, we could not fail to be attracted by the novelty of the lovely forest scenery on either side of the track, aud we found onr steps constantly arrested in our admiration of the gigantic ratas and other trees, the graceful groves of fern trees, and the thick growth of the numerous descriptions of ferns of the smaller kinds, which form a very attractive picture to people fresh from a town life. In addition to the general attraction of the bush scenery, the eye of the traveller is constantly attracted to the rarer and more beautiful growths which are only to be found at the higher elevations. Here are seen in great abundance the more uncommon kinds of ferns ; and an endless profusion of beautiful mosses rand lichens clothe the trunks of the fallen - (trees, with a thick coating of botanical treasures, which cannot fail to excite admiration in anyone who possesses even the slightest appreciation of the beauties of nature. Emerging from this woodland paradise at about 5 p.m., we found ourselves in a small clearing about half an acre in extent, in the centre of which stands the ‘Hut,’ The elevation here is some 1500 feet above the sea level, and the first sight to which our eyes were attracted was the moun--1 1 tain itself, rising as it were from our feet, and i ! towering 7000 feet above us in a perfect peak, j presenting a scene of rare and striking beauty,

The sun was just disappearing over a ridge, and in the clear evening air every rock seemed to be sharply defined, and the shadows in the ravines were rapidly deepening with the approach of night, while the numerous patches of snow, tinted with the light of the setting sun, enhanced the beauty of a scene which must at any time bo one of imposing grandeur and marvellous beauty. Turning from this fascinating spectacle and looking towards the north, there is much of interest to bo found in the panorama spread | out to the view, the range of sight travelling ! over the top of the bush, through which the track leads, to the town o ? Inglewood, lying as it seems far beneath the hut ; and looking further, on the coastline is distinctly seen, the Sugar Loaves, and the town of New Plymouth being clearly discernible. Wo were able from here, even without the aid of a glas3, to see distinctly the signals which were being flashed from one of the hills above the town, and by moans of a code of flashing signals a con venient and interesting mode of communication is formed with New Plymouth, not only from the ‘Hut’ but at any stage of the ascent. The ‘Hut,’ as it is rather misleadingly called, a large building, to outward view not unlike a railway goods shed, having corrugated iron sides, and an arched roof of the same material. On entering we found ourselves in a large room, in which there is an enormous fireplace, and which is intended to hold eight dining fables for the convenience of the numerous parties of tourists which it is anticipated will take advantage of the comfortable quarters pi'ovided on the slopes of Mount [ Egmont by the enterprising and public spirited people who have been to so much trouble to get the so called ‘Hut’ erected. The whole building is well-lined, and lighted with windows, and besides the largo room there are three sleeping apartments, a kitchen and a lavatory. Tho sleeping rooms, which we were informed are intended to accomodate altogether between 30 and 40 persons, are of fair size, and one of them is provided, with a fireplace. The bunks are extremely comfortable, the springy wire netting which forms the flooring making a very good mattress and as pillows and bolsters are provided by the company having the management of the building, a very comfortable bed can be made with a few blankets and rugs, of which a good supply is needed to withstand the cold of the early morning. The kitchen contains a good supply of frying joans and other cooking utensils, and these are all at the service of tourists, and the only tilings which need to be taken by each party are provisions and blankets, as all the necessary cups, plates, knives, forks, spoons, teapots, candles, etc., are provided on the premises, and are given out to each party on arriving, to be returned in good order when finished with. Very little is now required to finish the building beyond, layin g down some covering on the floor, and. erecting a verandah; but we were informed by Mr Peters, who takes great interest in the place, and will spend nearly all his time there in the summer, that he intends to plant a garden in front of the building, and make the place as beautiful as it is comfortable and substantial. It is due mainly to his endeavours that the track was made and the * Hut’ erected, and tourists cannot be too thankful for the facilities which be has afforded for the ascent of Mount Egmont. Ho is always open to engagement as a guide to parties going to the summit, an opportunity which it would be wise for those doing the ascent for the first time to take advantage of, as he knows the way, and indeed the whole mountain, thoroughly, and is able to point out the most direct as well as the least laborious route, and also to give warning to the dangerous portions of the climb. Rules, having for their object the preservation of the ‘ Hut’ and its contents, and the maintenance of order and prevention of annoyance to visitors, are posted up in the building, and it is earnestly to be hoped that tourists will do their .utmost to enforce obedience to these rules, and show a grateful appreciation of the comforts and conveniences provided for them. We cannot speak in too warm terms of the courtesy and hearty good nature of Mr Peters, and his efforts to oblige his visitors add not a little to the pleasure of the trip, and cannot fail to gain the goodness of all who pay the ‘ Hub a visit. (To be continued.)