MOUNT HOLDSWORTH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8259, 12 October 1906, Page 5

MOUNT HOLDSWORTH.

IMPROVING THE TKACK. . A public meeting was held in the Master ton Borough Council Chambers, last evening, to consider the | proposals to form a Park aud Town ! Beautifying Association and to improve the track up to Mount Holdsworth. Or J. 0. Ewington, Chairman of the Masterton Borough Council Park Committee, waa voted to the ohair, and there was a larijo attendance. 1 The Chairman, in explaining the objects of the meeting, said that the Tourist Department might be , 1 approached with a view to assisting / in the matter. As citizens, ho said, those present ought to take an interest in opening up the scenic portions of the district. Mr D. McGregor, senr., said he wa9 very pleased to be present. He had ascended Mount Holdsworth on several occasions, and he had never enjoyed a holiday so much as when he was on ttie mountain. He was surprised that the njatter had, not been taken up before. Mr McGregor explained how the citizens around Mount Egmont jealously guarded and improved the mountain, and how tourists orowded to the mountain in the. fine weather. Prom a botanical point of view ho thought Mount Holdsworth was superior to Mount Egmont The speaker urged that the track up Mount Holdswoith should be improved. When this had been done he thought the mountain would attract as many tourists as Mount fc'gmoat. A small foot-bridge over the little Maungatareie stream and a mountain house at the base of the bill were required. These could bn ootained first, and then as time went on the traok and other matters could be attended to. He suggested forming a strong executive committee to collect funds and generally carry out the work of forming a traok up the mountain. The Tourist Department could then be approaohed by means of a deputation with a view to obtaining funds to carry out the work. He moved that a committee be formed to carry out the work. Mr W. H. Jackson seouuded the motion, and said that he felt certain the Government would give every assistance to open up such a beautiful resort as Mount Holdsworth. Mr H. 0. Robinson said he believed tliat three orj fuiir men with axes could clear the traok as far as the "second camp" in less th»n a , week. Tourists could then ascend as far as this camp without any fear of losing the track. Mr C. Bannister said that when he wrote to tbe Tourist Department he was informed that they could not send a man to'examine the track on aucount of the Exhibition. They would, however, send a man about the beginning of the year. The motion was carried. The following executive committee was then appointed:—Messrs C. Bannister, W. D. Ayson, D. McGregor, senr., R. .Kifcbewhite, H. Evans, A. E. Winzenberg, L. J. Hooper, H. 0. Robinson, D. Osselbarg, 0. E. Daniell, W. B. Jackson, H. Holmes, A. P. Whatman, J. Hives, T. Oompton, ii. Perry, H. O. Russell, A. 0. Levien, J. B. Brown, J., Dagg, A. C. Paul, and Dr A. Hoiking. Mr W. M. Easthope was eleoted secretary to the committee. The meeting decided that the committee should meet at 7.30 o'clock on Thursday evening next. With regard to the appointment of a Park and Town Beautifying Committee, Mr McGregor suggested that the beautifying of the FarK conld very well be left to the Park Committee for the present. 1 The Chairman agreed that the _ matter could b3 held over until a future meeting. The meeting then adjourned.