MAKARORA NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 14

MAKARORA NOTES

(From Own Correspondent.) MAKARORA, January 7. SEARCH FOR NEW PASS. A party, including Mr Lee, of Napier, with Guide Eric James, set out prior to Christmas up the Siberia branch of the Wilkin River in search of a practical pass to Westland, said to have been viewed from a height during the Castor and Pollux climbs by Messrs Samuel Turner and Eric Miller four years ago. After delay by rain, snow, and fog the only promising crossing was attempted. The half.way point was reached only after several hours’ step culling on the steep, frozen snow slopes. Further inspection brought the unwelcome fact before the climbers that to proceed further would bring them near the summit at sundown, and, faced with the risk of an impossibje descent on the Westland side and their upward steps early becoming blotted out, they were reluctantly forced to retire to tlie bivouac. However, had the crossing been successful, it at no time could have been classed as a practical alpine pass. After refitting at Makarora the party set out to explore the mountains at the head waters of the Young River. Another aspirant, a local man, has also gone forth in a search for an alpine crossing into the Turnbull River country. THE WEATHER. Cold, unseasonable weather has been experienced during the week, unpleasant to the many campers. know again lies heavily on the ranges dowu to bush level. , PERSONAL. Mr Pryor, engineer for the Public Works Department at Makarora, was recalled from a fishing holiday at Hawed Lake by the sudden death of his mother in Christchurch. MAIL SERVICE. The mails which formerly reached here every Monday will in future arrive on Wednesdays and depart on Thursdays,