AERIAL RAILWAY PROPOSED

Southland Times, Issue 23538, 18 June 1938, Page 8

AERIAL RAILWAY PROPOSED

SKI-ING GROUNDS ON MT RUAPEHU

FACILITIES PROMISED FOR VISITORS (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 the 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 planned to construct, at an estimated cost of £30,000, to open up the magnificent snow-fields that feed the Franz Josef Glacier in the South Island. Here, four huge pylons are to carry wires, along which a carriage capable of holding 10 persons will be hauled by electric power. The journey now takes two days, but by the aerial ropeway it is expected to require little more than half an hour.

SIMILAR PROPOSAL IN 1936 A similar proposal for the National Park was mooted in 1936, when the project was raised by Messrs Colin Wyatt, noted English ski jumper, and T. W. Mitchell, captain of a 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 provision of a funicular railway would make the National Park a really first-class 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 they would otherwise enjoy. If the scheme is carried out it will serve to make a popular ski-ing ground near Salt Hut, on Mount Ruapehu, easily accessible, and it will eliminate the present necessity of tramping more than half a mile up the boulderstrewn mountain side from the point to which a motor road has penetrated about two miles and a-half 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 a start may be made on the work at Mount Ruapehu this year, the construction. of pylons and necessary power reticulation will require a considerable time. As a result, the Public Works Department is assisting in the provision of a ski-tow, and it is ex r pected 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 the Salt Hut. The rope will be drawn by a heavy motorengine and there will be facilities for lengthening the ski-tow to 200 yards if it is required.