MOUNTAINEERING EXPERIENCES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8279, 21 October 1905, Page 3

MOUNTAINEERING EXPERIENCES.

Nearly End in a Tragedy.

Mr S. Turner, F.R.G.S., who is in New Zealand as the representative of Wilier and Riley, Ltd., dairy produce merchants, of London and Manchester, and who is also an Alpine climber of much experience, had a terrible experience in climbing Ngaruhoe. It is early in the season for mountain-climb-ing, and at Taupo Mr Turner had great difficulty in persuading anyone to accompany him. In fact he was met with refusals, the danger of the ascent being emphasised. Eventually he secured the services of a roadman and a Maori lad. On last Friday evening they reached the mountain hut, 4800 ft. above sea-level. It was raining hard, but at 6 o'clock on Saturday morning tho weather cleared, aud Mr Turner and the roadman commenced the ascent, the Maori boy being left at the hut in charge of tho provisions. The roadman soon had enough, ancl left Mr Tanner to completi tin climb. Eventually tho mouth of the crater was reached, but a gale was blo.ving, and the climber lost his snow goggles and cap. The descent was then commenced, but the soft snow made it perilous. All Saturday he searched for the hut but could not find it. He determined then to make for the half-way house, and steering by the compass made it on Sunday afternoon. The only food lie had since early on Saturday morning was half-a-dozen small biscuits, some peppermint lollies, and a flask of tea. He was thoroughly exhausted, nearly starving, ancl almost blind through snow. Mr Turner learned that the roadman returned after watching him reach the top of Ngaruhoe, and that the Maori boy also returned after eating all the provisions. Mr Turner is now in a private hospital in Wellington slowly recovering from the effects of his perilous climb. — Post.