STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9293, 20 January 1892, Page 2

STRATFORD NEWS.

[FROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT.]

January 18. — The trouble in connection with the eternal town level question is now public, and is occasion'ng some remarks of a highly uncomplimentary nature at tho expense of our local engineers. The Town Board in the course of last year spent somo £120 in korbing and gravelling lootpaths, the greater part of this sum- being spent between Messrs Curtis' and the East Road. Tho work was done, or supposed to be done, to tho permanent level/ and a number of oxponaivo buildings have sinco been erected to suit the height of the foot* path. The expenditure inenrrod oy tho .Board, has, howovor, sinco boon declared by the Auditor- General to have boon illegal, boing on a county road, and, accordingly, when tho loan projected was mooted tho County Council undertook tho entire managemont. The Council's engineer now declares that the footpath has boon formed no loss than eighteen inches above tho tight level, And all buildings erected on it are that much too high. The Board c engineer emphatically denies this, but, I suppose, there will bo no difficulty in proving which is right TUB LATE ADVENTURE ON MOUNT EGMONT. The adventure of a visitor to the mountain, on Sunday night, may serve, to 'point out a moral, it' not to adorn a tale. The moral is this, — do not attempt to, ascend Mt. Egmont with any dregs of Is grippe about you. The gentleman in question, aMr Dunn, of Wanganui, has recently had an attack of tho malady, but, thinking himself entirely recovered, essayed, yesterday, in company with two friends and a guide, to make the ascent. The party left Stratford, on horseback, about 7.30., and reached the upper camp about 11. After securing tho horses, and partaking of luncheon, the real ascent was commenced at coon. 'At 3 o'clock the summit was reached without difficulty or adventure, except that a furious north wester mado tho crossing over the snow of the crater, from the eastern lip to the

western and highest peak, rather arduous. Only a short stay was made, and the descent was commenced. Mr Dunn baean now to Bliow evident signs of exhaustion, but was helped and encouraged by his friends until about 3000 feet of the return had been accomplished. At this point, however, it became evident that it would be impbsßiblo'for him to proceed much further. Tho guide consequently sent the other two gentlomen, who had nearly exhausted themselves in their efforts to help their friend, to make the best of their way to Stratford, end to call at the first settlor's house and ask for help to be sent. It was now 5 o'clock, and Mr Dunn was rapidly becoming unconscious. The guido dragged him a httle further down the scoria to where a large stone or two gave a little shelter from the wind, an I then hurried down to the camping place. found tho other tw ° gentlemen just saddling np, confiscated their overcoats and what f ooi was left, and returned to hia patient just at nightfall. It was now beginning to rain, a foretaste of tho deluge that was to r.oine, so a low wall of stones was hastily built aa a breakwind. Mr Dunn, now completely helpless, waß wrapped up as woll aa possible and deposited in his rather rough bedroom, tho guide also turning in, there being no inducement for keeping > latehoura under tho circumstances. The night wore on, the state of the elements making the want of a roof to the domicile a distinct advantage. Tho patient dozed occasionally, and at other times was inclined to be delirious. At about nightfa'l ,the guide. was relieved to find his patient, after a longer doze than usual, speaking coherently, and although suffering very much from the cold, evidently gaming strength. Shortly afterwards a cooee from the ridge showed thaj help was at hand, and as it was very doubtful if tho rescuers would be ablo to find the path from the ridge into tho gorge, »t the* head of which they lay. The guide got Mr Dunn to lus legs, and finding him much bettor, than possibly could have been hoped for, succeeded »in mounting the ridgo at the spot known as Crowhuret's Horror. The re-cue party were now misß : .ng, having been misled by the echoes into going down into the Kapnni Valley. However, they turned up, and proved to be the Rogers brothers from the Pembroke Road, who had promptly turned out on heaving «f the misadventure, and had brought food and blankets in readiness for an emergency. Very miserable the whole party must have looked, drenched to the skin, and shivering from the cold wind, which in tremendous blastß threatened to blow them all off the * ridge. At the first daylight a start was made for' home, Mr Dunn travelling re markably well considering his late condition. He, however, was, and remains totally unconscioug of everything that happened between five in the afternoon and midnight.