HUMPHRIES CASTLE HUT

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1930, Page 9

HUMPHRIES CASTLE HUT

CONSIDERATION DEFERRED. DECISION OF NORTH COMMITTEE. When tenders for a hut at .Humphries Castle were being dealt /with at a meeting of the North Committee of the Eginont National Park Board last night it was decided that owing to the financial position it was advisable to defer ’consideration until the next’ meeting. Though admitting the desirability of having a hut at Humphries Castle Miv G. M.° Spence said that what the committee had to consider was the way in w’ ich the board’s finances would benefit by the hut/ He doubted whether it would attract more people other than regular visitors to the mountain. For about three years the question of forming tennis courts had been under consideration. The formation of tennis courts would increase, the board’s revenue by attracting people to the mountain. .The hut, he contended, would serve the mountain climbers and not so much the general public. The most important thing from the point of view of the board should .be the completion of the courts, which in turn would help to swell tho revenue and so make the builfling of the hut possible later. • •A considerable sum had been spent on the. courts and he thought that now that the tenders were before the meetiiio' .was ah opportune time for a decision.

It had. been agreed at a previous meeting that- the hut should have precedence over the courts, replied the chairman, Mr. G. Fraser. Mr. Skinner thought it would be wise, from a financial point of view, to leave consideration of the’ hut until the autumn.

The committee should consider that the erection of the hut might be the means of saving life, said Mr. W. Groombridge. If it had been erected IS months previously one man’s life might have been saved. “Personally I should put the hut ahead of the courts,” remarked the chairman, “but at ; the present time it does not seem as if we can do either.”

Mr. J. S. Connett said his sympathies were with the Alpine Club, whose work -had done much to popularise the mountain.

Mr. F. Amoore was in favour of building the hut if it were possible, but in view of the finance the present time did not appear-very opportune... On the motion of Mr. W. H. Skinner it was agreed to defer consideration of the hut until next meeting.

“Would it not be wise to wait a year?” asked the chairman.. “We will have about £275 to find besides the oriunary expenditure.” The club captain of the Taranaki Alpine Club, Mr. L. Lovell, said that the members were keen on having the hut but if the board coiild not see its way to finance it they would be content.

On glancing through the tenders Mr. H V, S. Griffiths said there were a number of items included in the specifications and the tenders which he had not thought would be incorporated. That was where the extra money had gone. . “If we do the job I am opposed to half measures,” said Mr. Spence.'“lf it is to be done it should be done properly.”