TAHURANGI HUT OPENED

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1935, Page 7

TAHURANGI HUT OPENED

NEW WINTER SPORT BASE LARGE GATHERING ON MOUNTAIN. REFUGE IN TIMES OF STORM. ALPINE CLUB’S FINE EFFORT. Nearly 200 members and friends of alpine clubs throughout Taranaki attended the official opening of the new Tahurangi Hut at Humphries Castle on Mount Egmont yesterday. Favoured by brilliant winter sunshine, good snow easily available, and the freedom of a holiday week-end, the celebration provided as pleasant an excursion as has ever been Organised on the mountain, and the climax of a short, informal ceremony to mark the successful conclusion of an enterprise that has added greatly to the merits of Mount Egmont as a winter sports area. . . Hie new Tahurangi hut, situated in the midst of good ski-ing slopes and in a position that has proved an excellent base for both summer and winter slimbing expeditions, will do much to make alpine sports more popular on the northern slopes of the mountain. Its entire construction was undertaken by the Taranaki Alpine Club, which provided both money and labour for the building. The opening ceremony yesterday was performed by Mr. W. C. Weston, chairman of the Egmont National Park Board, who made a 3000 ft climb from the North Egmont Hostel to be present. Mr. F. Amoore, chairman of the North Committee, Mr. ,W. F. Moyes, president of the Taranaki Alpine Club, and official representatives of the other mountain clubs were also at the ceremony.

Shortly after 2 o’clock in the afternoon, with 150 brightly clad winter sports enthusiasts ranged on the steep hillside to the south of the building, Mr. Weston unlocked the door of the little building and declared it open for use. “I wish you and this hut the best of luck,” he said. “And I hope that the hut will mean for you many happy days on the mountain.” Mr. Moyes welcomed the visitors on behalf of the club. It did members credit, he said, that they should possess so fine a mountain headquarters. All would join in congratulating them. It would be realised that the building had not been put up without expense and a vast amount of labour, and it was to be hoped that labour would be of use for many years. The club, however, could not have undertaken the work without the co-operation of the North Committee, io which the thanks of all members were due.

Mr. Moyes remarked with pleasure on the presence of Mr. Weston and Mr. Amoore and said, with an eye on their rather toil-worn appearance, “We sincerely hope, however, that the next hut built by the Alpine Club will not be at the summit!” (Cheers and laughter.)

The president concluded with an appeal to all rfresent and members of the general public to see that the hut was not damaged wantonly as similar buildings had been damaged in other parts of the Dominion. “The hut has filled a long-felt want,” he said, “and we sinmerely hope it will be preserved.” Mr. Rod Syme, captain of the Egmont Alpine Club, expressed his pleasure. at being able to attend so happy a gathering and conveyed the congratulations of his club. It was particularly gratifying, he said, to see present those chiefly responsible for the care of the Egmont National Park. He personally had been very'pleased when Mr. Weston had been elected chairman of the board because it was very evident that he had a very definite interest in the care of the mountain and its preservation for the public. It was to be hoped that Mr. Weston’s efforts to raise more money for the preservation and improvement of the park area would be successful. He was glad that local bodies were being approached to provide regular funds for that purpose. Frankly, the clubs felt that they were spending more than their fair share of money on the upkeep and improvement of the reserve. Those who tooß the attitude that “those fools who go on the ,mountain should pay for it" were incredibly short-sighted. SIGN-POSTING AND TRACKS. Mr. Syme also remarked that more money should be spent on making the mountain safe above the snow-line, by the provision of adequate sign-posting and tracks. “That thought particularly struck me when I was coming here from Dawson Falls on a track that was little better than a rivef bed,” he said. “However, Tahurangi Hut will, I am sure, do much to encourage enthusiasm for mountaineering, and I hope that it will be in use for many years.” Mr. Brian McMillan, captain of the Stratford Mountain Club, expressed congratulation on behalf of his club and said that he was sure the new hut' would have an appreciably good effect on the standard of ski-ing in the province. He hoped to see many expenditions on ski from the Manganui Hut and further afield to the new base. Mr. Amoore said his expedition that day had brought back many happy memories of days he had spent on the mountain as early as the eighties. The members of the Alpine Club who had been responsible for the erection, of the hut had put up a magnificent performance, considering particularly the fact that the first heavy material had not been transported to the site until February. He had inspected the hut and found the job a thoroughly workmanlike one. Its cupboards and fittings would not disgrace a cabinetmaker. In the event of an accident on the mountain the hut would be of great use, and, apart from its utilitarian value, would be convenient for climbers on long expeditions, said Mr. Amoore. The choice of the name Tahurangi had been a particularly happy one. Maori lore had it that Tahurangi had been the first human being to set foot on the summit of the mountain. There was evidence that Tahurangi had, in the 14th century, set out on his memorable expedition from Moturoa. He had carried wood with him and built a smoky fire on the lip of the crater to show his followers that he had reached the top safely. Unlike much Maori legend, this story of the first ascent was circumstantial and easily believed. After adding his praise of the excellence of the job and congratulations to the builders’of the hut, Mr. Weston said he had been interested to have the opinion of mountaineers on the subject of. the park board revenue and preservation of the reserve. Local bodies had the wrong impression in many cases. It should be realised that the preservation of the mountain meant far more than, building and keeping up mountain houses and cutting trades. The board must have revenue. “I do not know where it is coming from at present,” said Mr. Wes-, ton, “but a start has been made in the matter, at least. One thing I would ask you all to do. You are potential rangers, and I hope that you will let the board know if persons are discovered destroying native game in the reserve.” The shooting of pigeons and other birds had been reported from the mountain, he added, and alpine club members should do everything in their power to preserve the sanctuary of the mountain and protected birds and beasts. Mr. Weston said he had greatly enjoyed his day on the mountain and had been deeply impressed by the gathering

of keen young men and women he had seen. He thanked the club-for refreshments provided the official party on arrival. After the opening of the hut visitors were entertained at afternoon .tea by the club, Mrs. Ellis leading an energetic band of women members. Later parties broke away from the'main body for short climbing and glissading expeditions. Although an unusually active day was spent it was unmarred by even a minor accident. . ... ,„ £ . The new hut is a staunch 24ft by 12ft structure with sharply angled roof to shed heavy snowfall. The outer walls are. of corrugated iron with an insulating lining of celotex which has been closely joined to avoid draught. The framework and supports are of heart rimu and smaller woodwork of pine. The furniture at present comprises Comfortably rigged two-decker bunks, a table, wash-basin and stove. The “home” touch is added by tiny print curtains fringeing the Windows. Special ventilation allows comfort even in heavy snowfall. Considerable excavation work had to be done in the steep side of Tahurangi ridge to level a site for the hut and place the concrete block foundations. The site is sheltered from the most violent prevailing winds, but from the front gives a magnificent outlook on the plains of north and central Taranaki. Visibility yesterday was excellent and the peaks of Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu and Tonganro were magnified by the clear air. The sea of the North Taranaki Bight, a broad expanse of sapphire and gold, gleamed brilliantly beyond the. towering grey mass Of Humphries Castle itself. Variation of the day’s sparkling clearness was provided in mid-afternoon when wisps of light cloud blew across the mountainside' and gave a hint of the magnificent cloud scenery for which Mount Egmont is famous. It is apparent to even the casual observer than an immense amount' of personal labour - has gone into the building of Tahurangi Hut. Every ounce of material in its construction was carried from the hostel 3000 feet below on the backs of climbers. Working parties were largely organised and led by Mr* R. Whitwell, the club captain, and by Mr. T. Wright, who, with several other expert mountaineers, spent nearly every week-end since Christmas at the work.