FUNICULAR RAILWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23529, 18 June 1938, Page 11

FUNICULAR RAILWAY

NATIONAL PARK PROPOSAL FACILITIES FOR ICE SPORTS (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, June. 17. The construction of. a funicular or aerial railway to convey visitors to the ski-ing grounds on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu at National Park is likely to be undertaken shortly by the Public Works Department. Departmental engineers have undertaken 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 driven and mounted on concrete pillars. There has been no announcement of the details of the proposal, but it is expected that, if the scheme is adopted, it will closely follow the lines of the aerial ropeway which it is olanned to construct at an estimated cost of £30,000 to open up the magnificent snowfields that feed the Franz Josef Glacier Here, four huge pylons are to carry the wires, along which a carriage capable of holding 10 persons will be hauled by electric cower The journey now takes two days, but by the aerial ropeway it is expected to require little more than half an hour.

A similar proposal for National Park was mooted in 1936. when the project was raised by Mr Colin Wyatt, a noted English ski jumper, and Mi T W Mitchell captain of the 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 would make National Park a really firstclass ski-ing resort. They said that until such a facility was provided New Zealand ski-ing would be handicapped in competition with overseas countries, as skiers could get less than half the amount of downhill running in a day than they would otherwise enjoy. If the scheme is carried out it will serve to make the popular ski-ing ground near Salt Hut on Mount Ruapehu easily accessible and will eliminate the present necessity for tramping more than half a mile up the boulder-strewn mountain side from the point to which a motor road has penetrated about two and a-half miles above The Chateau. An alpine facility of this nature presents engineering difficulties, but it is understood that a tentative route along the summit of the ridge has been closely investigated 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 lime As a result the Public Works Department is assisting in the provision of a ski-tow and it is expected that this may be available next month For a distance of about 100 yards skiers will be able to be drawn up by a rope which will be situated just above Salt Hut. The rope will be drawn by a heavy motor engine and there will be provision for lengthening the ski-tow to 200 yards if it is required.