CONQUEST OF NEW ZEALAND ALPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18625, 5 August 1922, Page 18

CONQUEST OF NEW ZEALAND ALPS

MR S. TURNER’S NEW BOOK. THE TUTOKO EXPEDITIONS. (From Odb) Own Correspondent.) I/ONDON, June 20. Just before the closing of the mail 1 have received from Messrs T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd., a copy of Mr S. Turner’s new book, “The Conquest of the Now Zealand Alps,” but there is not time for more than a brief mention. The book, the author explains, “is a frank description of actual pioneering, exploration, and plimbing of New Zealand’s most difficult mountains.” It certainly is an intimate story of many splendid achievements, told with fulness of detail and a mountaineer’s enthusiasm for this fascinating recreation. Mr Turner begins with his climbing experiences of 1912, after he had actually settled in New Zealand as a resident. His ascent of Mount Cook in that year hud some unique points. In the first place the view was perfect, and the party could actually see the farmhouses on the plains, and a farmhouse could be picked out in South Westland. Bannister, a Maori, was* with the party, and it was the first time a Maori liad reached the summit of Aorangi. The conquest of the other peaks of Mount Cook, the climbing of other mountains, form the substance for an interesting nary rative, but what Mr Tumor is rightly most proud of is his conquest of Mount Cook alone —the first occasion on which this had been done He has dealt with tin’s adventure very fully, for the climb was made under bad conditions and it was a matter, of “death or conquest.” Foreseeing possible scepticism, Mr Turner took no risks, and he carefully planned that there should bo witnesses to the feat. It is probably a unique certificate that the author is able to publish. Official witnesses certify .to the fact that they saw the mountaineer plant his flag on the summit. Probably the most interesting section of the volume is that dealing with the Tutokc expeditions, for this region presented opportunities for discovery. On the third occasion on which the author visited this part of the mountains his party constituted a record in 18 days’ constant travel—the biggest continuous mountaineering journey in Now Zealand. Mr Turner has reproduced a large number of his fine photographs, which considerably enhance an interesting volume.