MOUNTAIN ACCESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 110, 11 May 1936, Page 2

MOUNTAIN ACCESS

ROAD TO OHAKUNE HUT PROPOSAL NOT FAVOURED. The possibility pf constructing a road from the Ohakune railway station to the Ohakune Hut ou Mount Ruapehu, with an ultimate extension to meet the road to the Chateau Tongarira, was recently suggcsed to the Minister of Public Works (thehon. R. Semple) by the New Zealand Tourist. League. The Minister has replied that he cannot entertain the proposal at present (states the New Zealand Herald). In his letter to the league, Mr. Semple stated that there appeared to be very little doubt that a very considerable amount of survey work would be entailed in laying out a suitable road in this locality, as the existing track was on very steep grades and traversed much “wet” country. It might be possible to lay a suitable road on reasonable grades in a drier formation, but surveys would be required to establish this fact. On the present information it was a matter for conjecture whether such a road could ultimately be extended to meet the Chateau Tongariro Road, as there was some extremely rough country and a number of gorges to be crossed. The Minister added that, generally speaking, the Ohakune Hut was well situated fc-r an easy climb to the summit of Ruapehu, but it was in a very exposed position well above the bush line, and it was thought, so far as the roading was concerned, that a more satisfactory situation fc-r the hut would be further towards the east. It had been suggested that a much more satis factory road could be constructed along ■ the edge of the bush from the Karioi railway station. This would be on easy grades in good country, but the hut would not be at such a high altitude as it was at present. At the moment his department was committed to considerable reading improvements in the vicinity of the Chateau on the Scoria Flat Road, and he regretted that until tha apparenly reasonable programme had been compleed, he was unable to consider favourably any additional expenditure on reading in the Tongariro National Park. The Ohakune Chamber of Commerce has intimated to the Tourist League that it is securing the voluntary services of ah engineer to traverse the route and report on the probable cost of the work.