TRAMPERS RETURN AFTER BIG TOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18045, 4 January 1927, Page 15

TRAMPERS RETURN AFTER BIG TOUR.

Y.M.C.A. CLUB DOES 83 MILES ON WEST COAST. Returning yesterday evening from a Successful tour of the West Coast from Punakaki through Brighton, Charleston, Westport and the Ruller Gorge. members of the Y.M.C.A. Tramping Club, who left Christchurch on Christmas Eve. were keen to tell of a wonderful week spent in glorious weather and amid beautiful scenery. Giving his impressions of the tour Mr R. A. Kenner, who*was in charge of one of the parties, stated that it was the most colourful that the club had ever had. Thev had memories of the beauty of the Milford Track and the grandeur of Franz Joseph glacier. 1 but these could not come up to their impressions of the tour just concluded, especially the portion between Punakaki. and the Fox River; this, lie was convinced, ranked with the choicest beauty spots in Xew Zealand. 'lt is not possible for vehicles to get through to this part.” said Mr Kenner. “but those prepared to walk, or ride would be richly repaid for their efforts. The scenery is rugged, the native bush glorious, and. just now. the rata is blooming profusely, splashing red those wonderful mountain sides and creating a beautiful spectacle such as only Nature is able to produce. "The coastal scenery in this part. ’ he. went on, “ is similar to the beautiful East Coast at Kaikoura. At Punakaki there is practically the same beautiful Natural formation as can be seen at Kaikoura and in addition to this there are majestic mountains, and avenues of nikau palms, twenty and thirty feet high. There is nothing else like these in New Zealand and they are rivalled only in the tropical countries.” THE TRAMP. Setting out in a purely adventurous spirit, prepared to take things a? they came the party reached Punakaki on Christmas Day. Here they camped for two days, exploring . the countryside and visiting the Blowhole, and the Punakaki River. On the first day a member of the party named Vance scalded his foot and had to be sent to Greymouth by motor-car for medical attention. He was unable to resume the tramp. After their camp at Punakaki the 1 rampers divided into two parties. The first, which was ten in number, was under the charge of Mr Kenner and set out up the coast on Monday morning. The second, which numbered seven, under the guidance of the club captain, Mr E. A. Sayers, followed a day later. Mr Kenner's party arrived at the mouth of the Fox River about 5 p.m. on Monday. Espying an old skiff on the north bank of the river a few of the party swam across, bringing the skiff back with them, and by means ol this the whole party crossed the river. Once on the north bank the party pushed on to Brighton. Here they found four unoccupied tents, belonging to the Public Works Department, and camped in these for the night. Brighton. they learned, was once a town with a population of 2000; now it consists of but one family, the Prices, who farm a block of land and act as guides for visitors to the Fox River caves. Mr Kenner's party visited the caves. The party walked on to charleston on the second day of their tramp, camping the night in an unoccupied store. Charleston, they found, a mere relic of its former self; a drab town with only a few inhabitants holding up the traditions established by its population of 8000 in the days when gold drew men and women in hundreds to the district.' The next morning the party set out along the coastal track to Westport, which was used by the gold-seekers before a road was formed. The track runs for fourteen miles along the beach, fringing wonderful mountain scenery. Fortune favoured the party when they reached the mouth of the Totara River. Jt was low tide<at the tiiTic of their arrival and they had no difficulty in swimming across. They reached Westport in the evening, and here they heard news of their comrades coming behind. They learned by telephone that the second party had reached Charleston just an hour after they themselves had left and had pushed on 4n the tracks of the first party. They I •were expected at Westport at any minute, but when they did not put in concern was felt for their safety. Thinking that their comrades had lost their way. Mr Kenner's party organised themselves into search parties and scouted the country round about, but found nc* signs of the others. By using the telephone to keep in touch with Charleston, Mr Kenner learned* early in the morning that their fears were unfounded, as the second party had returned safely to Charleston and had set out again on another route. They had got as far as the mouth of the Totara, only to find themselves thwarted by a flowing tide and forced to turn back. During their second visit to Charleston Mr Sayers’s party replenished their food supplies, then went inland by the formed road, crossing the bridge over the Totara and camping on the north bank for the night. The parties joined forces the next clay and went through the Buller Gorge on Friday, reaching Inangahua in time to catch the 12.50 train. From Inangahua the majority of the party went on to Hokitika, visiting Lake Mahinapua and Lake Kanieri, before going on to Otira, where half the party left the train to walk through the Gorge, intending to return to Christchurch to-day. The party which returned to Christchurch yesterday covered eighty-three miles on foot, carrying their camping gear and food.