EGMONT NATIONAL PARK

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1930, Page 11

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK

NORTH COMMITTEE MEETS. MAINTENANCE OF TRACKS. . The control and maintenance-of the area under its charge was discussed by the north committee of the -Egjmont National -Park Board last night, ■ There, were present: Messrs. G. Fraser • (chairman), J. S. Connett, [■ F. Amoore, W. H. Skinner, W. Groombrid-ge, G. M. - Spence and' 11,. Vi ,S. • Griffiths.The manager reported • that since Ihe last meeting of the board, he Jhad- been, concentrating on the lower mile of the road and this* work was nearly finished,, a very good job -being made. He had carted 102 yards of gravel . and sand, .-. I all of which had been used.in surfacing the road, and he had/also used 50 yards < of metal on this stretch, all of which had been thoroughly rolled. It would be necessary to cut back some of the i smaller trees, and he suggested . that . this be done at.an early date. .Duringj, ; the month/ a large rata- fell rcross the’ road and had ,tp. be cleared away. Referring to i the tracks the report stated that several small slips had .occurred on the Bell’s Falls Track, rnak- . ing it rather dangerous. The manager • asked, permission to .employ a Tnan//ito, -. help; clear these away. As coon as, time/ permitted the main mountain 'trade-./ would be regraded and steps would ba • eliminated, where- possible. House 'fees/J for-November • were £5 ; 6s. L - There were six. steps on that; trsclQ; and three of them were'really dangerous, said Mr.; Spencej referring to the manager’s report. He considered I 'that certainly the ste-ps should be eliminated. Generally speaking ‘he track was in good condition/ . The expenditure of -£s'' on the Bell’s Falls Track ywas-approved. The elimination of steps dn'.the main, track behind- the monument, was discussed, Mr.'Lar?en qtating that he.in-/ tended to carry out the work himself. A review of the financial position was given by the chairman. There was £3O in hand,, while thei board would-/ receive a £7O refujid from' M r - Taylor;/ Accounts amounted' to ■aoout ..:£ISO, of . which the cost of the road was £loo.' This'left a shortage of aJbout £SO./For the next three months commitments., amounted to about £290. This '.yra»‘' ; made up of wages £75, loan and interest / due on March 1 £lO5 and payment. for trtick £3O. Park fees had shrunk bf7.‘; Tolls had increased £26 to £190,; while.;/ house fees had decreased by.£39 to £66. : It was alleged that ..Prince of .‘Wales j. ferns had been taken from the lower-, track by a passing motorist. The'.chairman was. of opinion that the committee should obtain a report' and bring the matter before tlie hoard. The signposting of the main and'tifee Veronica. Gully tracks was advocated by Mr. Spence and the committee auth- ; prised the work. '