EGMONT NATIONAL PARK

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1930, Page 11

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK

MEETING OF SOUTH COMMITTEE. IMPROVEMENTS AT THE HOSTEL.The soutii : committee of the Egmont National Park Board met at Manaia yesterday. There were present: Messrs E. Long (in the chair), G. J. Bayly, B. C. Lysaght, A. G. Larcom, Rod. Syme, J. Cocker, H. Symmons, A. J. Christie, A. F. Gamlin and L. O. Hooker (secretary). , ... , The following report was submitted by the secretary; — The hut. —Following instructions work was immediately put in hand for the construction of the hut for Fantham’s Peak. Through the kindness of the winter show committee, arrangements were made for the putting together of 8 all, the framework in . its building. This was done by Mr. Pettett, under the supervision of Mr. R. Syme and myself. Each piece of timber was numbered and a plan prepared. It was then dismantled and before the, end of November was carted up to Dawson Falls. Most of the material, including the iron, is now at a dump at the foot of Fantham’s Peak, and a start is being made' this week-end to transfer it to the site on Fantham’s Peak. At a meeting of the Alpine Club a fair sum of moneys was set aside to covet the cost of transfer of workers, ’ and the club is keen in the execution of its share of the work. Special mention is due to Mr. R. Syme, club captain. A start is being made with the excavation of the site. The report added that a kerosene stove had been procured for the hut. Tracks. —The main road through the reserve is in splendid order, especially considering the amount of wet weather. Lately Mr. Murphy has been giving a lot of time to side track work. ' A new bridge has been constructed over the Kapuni, above the falls, and the track on the other side to ths Stratford track has been cleared. It is intended to do something with the trick across the branch of the Kaupokonui, and up the ridge to the slopes of Fanthanrs Peak. Mr. J. Moore, an artist who has been at Dawson Falls for some months, has been kindly assisting wit/Ttl'is track work. There are several places, especially on the new tracks, where seats would be a distinct advantage. PUBLICITY ACTIVITY. Publicity. —During the Christmas season the resort had a good share of publicity in the illustrated papers. Films illustrating the mountain are being shown on the overseas steamers. Mr. John Moore, a New Zealand artist of note, has been at'Dawson Falls for some months now doing watercolour sketches, and some very fine work has been completed. A great number of drawings have been disposed of and' will prove excellent publicity for the mountain. The Government Publicity Officer has taken some of the work for special publicity. . Septic tank.—Just prior to .the holidays Mr. Murphy reported to the chairman that the old cesspit had failed and needed immediate attention. The chief health officer at New Plymouth arranged for , the inspector from Stratford to inspect the site, and he instructed that a fresh septic tank should be built. He provided a plan and a new two compartment concrete tank was immediately built and is in splendid working order. Renovations. —The work on the two smaller cottages and new men’s lavatories was immediately put in hand and completed. A lean-to containing a bathroom and scullery, with sink aud water, was built on the top cottage and the place was painted inside and out. The other cottage was also painted and a new roof put on, and the end of the verandah covered in, and other conveniences were attended to. lhe old house has had the fireplace attended to. and new doors put in. Further work is required to be done to this house, but it was decided to leave it for the time being, as it- was thought that it would be better to/alter it and make it into two or’4hreb Sseparate lettings, as the demand in:this direction is increasing. A new drain had to be laid from the top cottage connecting with the drain nt’ the women’s lavatory to carry the bath' and sink waste. The new men’s lavatories have also been completed. - ' Insurance. —The matter of insurance was gone into, and all the buildings were : inspected and are now insured under one policy as follows: —Tourists’ hostel £1250, manager’s residence £350, old house . £350, cottage £lOO, carshed and woodshed £2o, carshed and store £25; total £2200. Premiums for twelve months total £3B 18s Bd. Tolls. —Comparison of a statement of tolls covering the past nine months with the figures for the corresponding months of the previous year shows there has been a decrease of £25 Is 6d, while on the cottage receipts there

has been an increase of £l9 ss. . There has been a marked increase in the cottage receipts since the renovation. There is no doubt that weather conditions have a distinct bearing on toll receipts. The action of the chariman and secretary regarding the emergency work in connection with the septic tank was confirmed. „ • It was decided to obtain a dozen copies of Miss Baughan’s booklet on Mount Egmont, to be used for publicity purposes as the chairman deemed advisable. ... . ; Correspondence was read from the Post and Telegraph Department relative to a charge of £l6 for maintenance of telephone lines to the mountain house. The department pointed out that free communication between the house and the gate was allowed the park committee. It would be far cheaper for them to maintain the lines themselves, said Mr. Lysaght. '■ It was pointed out that men had to be sent out from Stratford to repair broken lines. The matter of dealing with the account was left in the hands of the chairman and secretary. A letter was received from the Egfiiont National Park Board asking if there were any persons whom the committee desired to have appointed ,as honorary rangers. It was decided to confer with Mr. Tait on the subject. , • It was decided again to approach the , local bodies for contributions towards the upkeep of the park.