EXPLORATION ON THE TARAROAS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7392, 21 March 1911, Page 9

EXPLORATION ON THE TARAROAS

HAMPERED BY MISTY WEATHER.

Tnuugn tne crossing of the Tararuas during tmo «ceiv-enu oy a party tnoru'Uguiy cApoi'ic-noe-U in its a^~ gi.ti.jjiiy, 1 uiu.a*ouj.auio rtu*uitti‘ pievunua tuo journey num c/uiivi to cue tuiUiaiupu, oaiiig ciocuuij/iiaiitU,. diib patty comprised w. H. Field, an._n'., !->• u. nsuon cncmiaL;, Esmond n.urtiiaun farexsaj, J. X . vvaruxop rotary oi Aomuxjssiunersj, and tnree .settlers.

At li u.j-u. on Saturday they readied the tarns on tne urst scrips ox pea*.*, ol which tne suuiiail is mount meeior. Misis txien coloured tile lower peans, anti tne summit was not readied. until b p.m. Uu ouaoay morning they walk' eel lor several -hours amiig tne ringe towards Mount Alpha, clear weather prevailing, hut as the morning wore on the tronuiesome mists came up and the projected route down Mount Omega range into the Tauherenikau Valley—a drop ox 3000 feet, and a climb of the same distance to Mount Peeves —had to be aban-' doned. There is no track -through- the sub-alpine scrub one the Grey town side, so that the conditions would have had to have been absolutely favourable before the long day’s tramp into the Wairarapa could have been undertaken. However, they will make another attempt this summer. : The .£SO subsidy for a track from Judd’s up the mam ridge inwards Mount Hector has been so well earned by the settlers who carried out the work that there is now a splendid route through the bush and the The journey is now so easy that Mr Field considers it can be made by ladies. It comprises a tweleve-mile drive from Otaki, a climb through beautiful bush, and then the bare mountain side. Three hours is a good allowance for the climb. AN EIGHT DAYS’ TEIP. After an eight days’ trip among the Tararuas, Messrs E. S. Lancaster and G. L. Adkin, of Levin, together with Mr H. T. Thompson, of Wellington, arrived in Masterboin last week, after making a successful crossing of the ranges. The party left Levin on March 9th. They .camped for a day or two at the source of the Waiohino river, and explored it for several miles. It had been intended to climb Mitre Peak, but this was prevented by a howlrng 'gal© and dense fog. The party made their way along the Mitre range, enveloped in am. almost "impenetrable log, and guided only by a westerly wind and compass, crossing knife-edge pinnacles and dangerous ravines, until, baffled by the sudden diversion of the range, they were compelled to seek shelter and rest in a halt. The camp at this spot was 4600 ft above the* sea level. On the following morning the fog lifted, and a magnificent panoramic view of, the’surrounding plains and rivulets, with the ocean and Jakes in the distance, presented itself. They proceeded to Mount Koldsworth, taking numerous photographs and admiring the mountain flora cn route, descending eventually through what they describe as the most magnificent mountain beech forest in the Dominion, to the hut at the foot of the Mount. The party, which has previously made a similar journey, discovered traces of wild cattle and saw mountain duck, paroquets, kaka, and wild pigeon in abundance. They failed, however, to discover any trace of the huia.