RAETIHI NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 March 1947, Page 2

RAETIHI NEWS

NEW TOWN CLERK APPOINTED (0.C.) Raetihi, March 10. Mr. G. E. Budd, of Christchurch, has been selected from 11 applicants for the position of town clerk to the Raetihi borough. Mr. Budd was formerly in the employ of the Bluff Borough Council, but for the past 18 months he has been on the staff of the Waimarino County as accountant. He will take up his duties in Raetihi during the coming month. WAIMARINO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. Returns from trappers engaged in the taking of opossums during the 1946 season show that 13,850 were accounted for in the Waimarino Ac» climatisation District. Had every trapper sent in a tally it is felt that this number would have been greatly exceeded. With skins averaging approximately 7s each the net return would be in the region of £4,Boo—quite a valuable side-line in a farming and sawmilling district. RUAPEHU ASCENT. A recent one-day outing organised by the Tongariro Tramping Club saw a large party of 35 make an ascent to the crater of Ruapehu. The route taken was via the Chateau and the Whakapapa glacier. There was much activity in the crater and a heavy column of white smoke rose continuously to a height of several hundred feet. The only change noted from when members visited the crater in February of last year was that the small lake which hqd developed since the activity commenced some two years ago had disappeared. This, apparently, had drained out through a small break in the southern lake wall and flowed into the active part of the crater. Conditions on the summit were remarkably pleasant. Excepting when drifting mist obscured the surroundings, there was a clear view of all the peaks and the lower country. The ages of those taking part in the climb ranged from 14 years and 60. This point made in order to illustrate that under fair conditions and proper organisation the average person could make an ascent without any particular difficulty.