FAMOUS ALPINE CLIMBER

Otago Witness, Issue 3590, 2 January 1923, Page 4

FAMOUS ALPINE CLIMBER

ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND. Among the visitors to New Zealand who arrived by the Tahiti is Mr A. L. Mumm, partner in the well-known publishing firm of Edward Arnold, London. Mr Mumm is a distinguished Alpinist, and in addition to being a publisher is himself an author. His book “Five Months in the Himilayas” .is a most interesting story of mountain travel and adventure. If was .in ISO 7 that, with the famous Dr Longstaff and Major Bruce, now Major-General Bruce, who was leader of the last Mount Everest expedition, and accompanied by those celebrated guides, the Brothers Bx-oeherie, of Courmayeur, he made his Himilayan journey. On that, expedition Dr Longstaff made what was at that time one of the highest mountain ascents on record. The summit cf Trisul, which Dr Longstaff reached, was then the highest mountain in the world of which the complete ascent was undisputed. The ’ascent was made from a camp 17,450 ft to the summit, 23,406 ft —that is to say 6000 ft in 10 hours. Mr Mumm, who has been climbing in the Swiss Alps, the Rockies, and the Himilayas, for many years, and is one of the most prominent members of the Alpine Club, is at present on a tour round the world. He went by way of Canada to Japan, where he was a guest at the British Embassy at Tokio. After a tour through Japan and some climbing ill the Japanese Alps Mr Mumm went by way of Korea to China. His journey through that country was most interesting. Though there was a war on it seemed to make little difference to travel, there evidently being an arrangement . that there was to be no interference with iravllllers on the China railways. Mr Mumm did not even have a passport. There were sleeping and dining cars on the train, and the luggage was checked through in European style. The travellers, among whom were two New Zealand ladies, saw nothing of the war. Evidently it is not i: “Great War.” In - Japan Mr Mumm had the somewhat unique experience of going up in a Japanese aeroplane with Sir Charles Eliot, the British Ambassador. They were asked to visit an aerodrome where British naval officers were training Japanese, and on arrival found that part of the programme was that they should make a flight. Mr Mumm came from China to Sydney, and after a brieLstay there came on to New Zealand, which Tountry he has for some years past longed to see. He leaves to-morrow morning for Auckland, where, after a brief stay, he will make, a tour of the thermal regions. Afterwards he will see something of the South Island and will spend a fort night at Mount Cook, climbing with one of the members of the Now Zealand Alpine Club.

NO SUNDAY COLF.

DECISION IN ASHBURTON. The question whether the council should lease a reserve to the Ashburton Golf Club with tlie possibility of games being played nu Sundays was before a meeting of the Ashburton County Council a few days ago. The question had previously been discussed when application was first made by the club for a lease of the reserve. It was referred to the Works Committee with power to act, but the committee decided to allow the whole council to settle the question, because the

principle of Sunday play was involved. The chairman moved that tenders be called for the leasing of the reserve in question:, with the condition that if the Golf Club setcures the lease play on Sundays be prohibited. After a further expression of views, mostly against Sunday play, the motion was carried that tenders be called for the lease, a condition being that no Sunday play on this reserve be allowed v