MAORI MOUNTAIN TALES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1933, Page 11

MAORI MOUNTAIN TALES

ALPINE CLUB ADDRESS. I EARLY EUROPEAN CLIMBERS.

Maori tradition in connection with Mount Egmont was related to about 30 Taranaki Alpine Club members at the club room, New Plymouth, last night by Mr. W. H. Synper. Ths

sident (Mr. L. W. Lovell) introduced Mr. Skinner, and at the conclusion of the address expressed the thanks of the gathering. Facts relative to the early Maori migration to New Zealand were first sketched by Mr. Skinner, who then referred to the familiar legend of Egmont’s removal from the vicinity of the central mountains through a lover’s quarrel. The derivation of the name Taranaki and better known place names on the mountain and ranges were traced by the medium of Maori legends. European ascents were led by Dieffenbach and Hebberley when they reached the summit on December 23, 1839. Francis Bell, father of the present Sir Francis Bell, W. Carrington and Minarapa reached the top on February 12, 1843. Minarapa, a tohunga of his tribe, was the first Maori to make the trip of whom there was any real evidence. The paste

cent in March, 1855, and Mrs. Arthur Atkinson (nee Richmond), who accompanied the men, was the first woman to reach the top. Percy Smith, Hursthouse, Standish, Greenwood and others climbed Egmont in the summer of 1857 by the. same route as the by the spur at present used by Nortft Egmont climbers.

Graylings and Henry’s route up Mangorei Road and over the ranges to the swamp at Holly Flat was followed by climbers from 1858 to 1888, after which the track at present in use was made the regular route. '■ Members were informed that there would be a club trip to the Bell Block beach on March 19. .