PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13937, 12 December 1918, Page 6

PUBLIC OPINION

Aa expressed T)y correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we b*v»» no responsibility. (To Ihe Editor.) Sir, —in lie address before 'lie Chamber of (lommerre on Monday evening l.ist I describeil Huapehu as the greatest of all New Zealand mountains. This is one of those incautious remarks that requires modification. No one wishes to deny the supremacy of that splendid Alp Aorangi, the source of the largt st glaciers in the world. For many years it stood invincible. Then came Rev. Green, with his Swiss guides, and lie may fairly be acclaimed its conqueror. Fitzgerald and others followed. but although a practicable rout, to the summit has been found nothing can detract from the interest of the alpine surroundings. Ruapehu has a separate interest in j that it is built up by volcanic, action, I and the wonder of its architecture by j this and other elemental means has a I geological interest that no other New | Zealand mountain possesses. Great | fans of mountain debris spread out to , form the gigantic base which rests upon plateau and desert. The carving is beautiful in its symmetry. There are no encumbering foothills: roads and railways touch the mountain. There is the interest of the sulphur crater lake, with its beautiful ire-cliffs, on the summits. Upon its warm waters little bergs, spawning from the cliffs, tloat for their brief life period. The old crater, one mile across and probably 3000 feet, deep, is the collecting place i of the snows. Here, and on the great summit snowfleld, the glaciers Waikato, Wangaehu* Whaianoa, Mangaehuehu (with its ice-fall), Mangaturuturu, Paretetaitonga, and Mangapapa are (•formed, t understand that several of these have not yet been explored. There appears to be an impression that these glaciers arc crevassed only at the outflow from that unique collectins - ground, the crater. I saw ttie Waikato glacier deeply and widely crevassed midway from the summit to its terminal face. I trust that nothing that has been said or written will lead climbers to act incautiously upon the snowflelds and glaciers, but that they will be especially careful in traversing the latter after fresh snowfalls. This mountain has already taken toll of human life, and from the ignorant and imprudent there will be. further sacrifices. I fear for those unacquainted with mountains who may make the ascent under inadequate leadership. Kindly give me space ndt only fir praise, but for warning. A good guide is the. first necessity, and no one who cannot produce satisfactory credentials should be allowed to make the ascent unguided.

I am certain that this mountain will attract attention to the great unsettled area extending from the Main Trunk line to East Cape, a distance of something like ;{OO ;m>s. This includes.Western Taupo and the Rangftoto range, some very fine bush land on the Kaimanawas and in the Tahurua valley, the wide rolling downs extending from Ruananga. on the Taupo road, to Galatea, and then Rua's country, or the Urewera. On.e writer in the press recently wishes us to believe that this is a country of narrow valleys ami oversteep hills. The ignorant are often the first in print. It is a country of great possibilities. Cocksfoot comes into it naturally, and grows luxuriantly on the steepest faces. It can he, and is, harvested for seed, and if the climate suits I see no reason why it should not he a second Akaroa. The country northward from Ruatahuna rises in one gradual and magnificent sweep to the top of the range over Galatea. It is heavily forested with magnificent timber, and the wild cattle in that bush (this is a test of country) are as fat as Pukerimu steers. There is nothing the matter with the country except that gold can not buy a square inch of it. Even Boh Bayly's accommodation house had to be "pitched" on the roadline. A lot of people know a lot about the national debt and very little about (he national assets. It is said that Captain Cook discovered this country some years ago. Not so;'it has not yet been discovered except the coastline, which is as far as a sailor cares to go.' I think the longshoremen might get inland a bit and take a look over the Land of Promise. With apologies for the length to which mv enthusiasm has carried me.—l am, etc., D. M. ROSS.