ALPINE CLUB REVELRY

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1930, Page 3

ALPINE CLUB REVELRY

TOAST LIST AND DANCE.

MR. AND MRS. MURPHY HONOURED. Extraordinary enthusiasm at. Dawson Fall’s mountain house on Saturday afternoon witnessed the arrival of over 140 alpinists; four clubs being, represented. There were 62 Taranaki Alpine Club members, 53 from Mt. Egmont Alpine Club, 25 Ruapehu Ski Club representatives and two Stratford Mountain Club members, besides a number of visitor’s at the mountain ( house. ■ • Two crowded lorries ' and numerous cars left New Plymouth about 3. o’clock on Saturday with the Taranaki club members, the number being. further supplemented. along the route to . Stratford. The representatives of. the other clubs had already reached the house .by. private cars • before the northern people arrived and a hot and welcome dinner was soon. ready. , Following the. arrangement... of sleeping quarters the whole crowd was summoned to the dining room, where Mr. L. O. Hooker, president of the Mt. Egmont Alpine Club, welcomed the members of visiting clubs on behalf of his club and expressed great pleasure at the number which had made the trip. . . Mr. L. Lovell, captain of the Taranaki, club, said that his club was yet a young one. He felt honoured at the very warm welcome extended by the Mt. Egmont club and said that it was hoped to entertain the members of other clubs at North Egmont before very long. . Mr. S. Rennie, honorary secretary of the Ruanehti Ski Club, said that although most of the executive were Wanganui folk the membership was very scattered and, .for that reason alone he said he found it difficult to express the thoughts of his club members. He sincerely thanked the Mt. Egmont club for its great welcome. Mr. R. Syme, captain of the Mt. Egmont club, apologised for the unavoidable ab- ! sence of Mr. Pople; the Stratford club captain, who had at the last minute been unable. to get away. Mr. Hooker proposed the health of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, great enthusiasm being 'shown at the appearance of the popular couple. “This is undoubtedly the most popular toast of the evening," said Mr. Hooker. “For 32 years I have been connected with this side of the mountain and have met all kinds of hostel managers but I can say without hesitation that Mr. and Mrs. Murphy during the time they have had the hostel have been thoroughly popular with everybody—they have that happy knack of making one feel completely and comfortably at home.” ‘ (Applause). Mr. Hooker then called upon Mr. Syme to make a presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy on behalf of the Mt. Egmont Alpine Club. “Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have done so much for our club that I shall confine myself to their help and kindness to our members during the construction of the hut on Fantham’s Peak,” said Mr. Syme. “Besides assistance in the actual conveyance of materials, they had a warm welcome always awaiting us on our return from the Peak after a heaiy hard climb. I feel certain that if it had not been for the encouragement given by Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, that hut would not yet exist. They always showed the greatest confidence and inspired us with hope when at times we began to feel the task an almost impossible one.” He then asked Mrs. Murphy to accept a suitably inscribed cake stand. Messrs. B. Haybittie and Murray also eulogised the good qualities of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy. ’ Mr. Murphy in thanking the donors on behalf of Mrs. Murphy and himself said they'were really overwhelmed by the surprise. “If you expect me to a talk of the mountain then you are to be disappointed,” he continued, “but I will say this of the recently constructed hut and the remarks of Mr. • Syme regarding our part, in that work: He is “hiding, his light” as it were — he said nothing of the five trips a day and the 60 and 701 b. loads he carried. We all know to whom the credit of that building feat belongs." Mr. Murphy said he thought it a' great thing for all the clubs to meet together as they were doing. Mr. Lovell proposed . the “second most important toast,” that of the Mt. Egmont Alpine Club, and Mr. P. Lawn responded, outlining the objects of its . formation.. The toast of the New .Zealand Alpine Club was proposed by. Mr. F. Lomas, who said that it was the pioneer of all alpine clubs in New Zealand. They owed it a )

debt of gratitude for early realising the possibilities of mountaineering in New Zealand. - ; • , ■ ' ! Mr. Syme, a prominent member of the New Zealand Alpine Club, said in reply that the club was almost unique. Apart from the English club it was the only one, to his knowledge, requiring a test for qualification. This test was not the completion of a high climb but the satisfaction of a committee after perusal of the climbing record of the applicant. The club was yet a young one and was not numerically strong. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Hooker, the chairman of the evening. The alpinists adjourned to the hall for dancing. This hall was tastefully decorated by ladies of the Mt. Egmont Alpine Club, mountain greenery and gay streamers lending it a cheerful appearance. A huge fire provided ample warmth and the fact that patches of snow still lay outside was forgotten, the dancing continuing until a late hour.'