RUAPEHU LODGE. A Note from the Committee

Forest and Bird, Issue 147, 1 February 1963, Page 23

RUAPEHU LODGE. A Note from the Committee

It is now well over a year since one of our members had this bright dream of a lodge. It would arise on Ruapehu, clear and shining and as welcoming as a homecoming, it would stand for the love of New Zealand, it would focus enthusiasms and friendships —in fact, like most dreams, it would have all the answers.

That is how we felt as we began to examine the implications and possibilities of a Forest and Bird lodge on Mt. Ruapehu. We probed in many directions —the feeling of members, land acquisition, plans, costs, and methods of raising money —a time-consuming task which we would not allow to become frustrating. Initial costs such as the printing and mailing of the prospectus were met by funds raised by the Wanganui Branch, so that if the scheme fell down the Society as a whole would not be burdened.

In round figures £6,000 was required to finance the • venture. The phenomenal success of similar lodges on the mountain gave us confidence that revenues from it would see us in the clear within five years. A direct request for gifts and loans was considered the best means of approach. One member said if 60 members each lent £lOO we would get there; another said better still if 1,000 members each lent a fiver (his rough arithmetic was still very serviceable).

Since then the prospectus has been mailed so that each member has received a copy. The outcome has not been as simple as our arithmetic. The letters arriving day by day have built up a picture that is both complex and exhilarating. The first surprise was the number of gifts; out of £1,547 to hand by 8 December, £l,OOO has been given. The support of members well up in years has been most moving. Thus: “I do wish I could see the lodge, but my travelling days are over.” Another words her letter: “Please find cheque enclosed as a love gift for the Forest and Bird lodge.” And another, too old to be less than wise and forthright, writes: “Don’t let your, Society be content to sit in peace and listen to our delightful wee birds singing to us. Aim higher. To succeed in anything, you’ve got to have genuine unwavering faith, in it and fight like hell for it.” Again, we

were most grateful when donors came to light with a second and third remittance. We have had an offer of free services by a master tradesman in the building of the lodge, and other offers of labour. And so it goes on. We know now we shall succeed. We wish to thank all the members who have given such heartening support. We still need support and are confident we shall get it. We ask all who have not yet contributed to give this matter their ready and generous consideration.

RUAPEHU LODGE FUND

The following is a list of donations and loans to the Forest and Bird Lodge Ruapehu Fund up to 8 December, 1962. At 35., Anonymous; at 55., each, Mrs. Dobbs, Mrs. D. M. Mutton; at 10s. each, R. Barham, Miss E. Burnett, R. W. Goldie, Miss M. Haines, Miss E. Hitchcock, F. Luckens, W. A. Maunsell, Miss S. E. Quinn, M. J. Smith, Miss M. N. Young; at 10s. 6d., A. C. Henderson; at £1 each, Mr. & Mrs. L. M. Allott, G. W. Best, D. E. S. Brooker, Miss R. Campion, E. L. Crompton, B. W. & R. Duffy, O. D. Du Pont, Mrs. G. Grant, Miss B. Hancock, Miss A. Harrison, G. C. Hart, Mrs. M. J. Hewitt, D. T. Hine, J. Jarrold, Miss H. Jenkins, Miss D. L. Johnston, A. P. Larsen, Miss A. Pollock, N. Potts, L. Proffitt, Miss C. Pyne, Mrs. E. C. Richards, Miss J. B. Ross, Mrs. H. Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Smith, W. D. Squire, Miss G. Stead, Mrs. K. Stedman, Miss E. R. Taylor, Mrs. N. Wake, W. A. Watters, D. F. Whitmore, Mrs. W. Wyley; at £1 Is. each, Rev. G. H. Yates, G. N. H. Johnson; at £1 55., W. Dorflinger; at £1 155., Mrs. Hogg; at £2 each, Mrs D. Jackson, Lays Jewellers, W. N. W. Leech, Mrs. A. Liley, Miss M. McLay, Miss M. McLean, Miss N. D. Street, Miss N. G. Twistleton, J. E. F. Vogel; at £2 2s. each, F. W. Burnet, Franklin County Council, Mrs. N. W. Howell, C. G. A. Lee, Mrs. P. M. McCallum, Miss K. J. Merrielees, Southern Hawke’s Bay Section; at £2 10s., Mrs. L. Hall; at £3 each, E. L. Burge, Manawatu Committee Members, Mrs. N. A. Wakelin, Mrs. W. B. Young; at £3 3s. each, Miss M. Rowe; at £4 4s. each, Mr. R. F. Liley (2), Mrs. F. D. Lowes (2) ; at £5 each, Anonymous, Auckland Branch, Dr. I. D. Auld, Mrs. I. L. Barclay, Miss M. Barton, D. Bowie, Dr. R. H. Bowie, Miss L. J. Bungay, Mrs. J. Carpenter, B. L. Chambers, N. W. Collins, W. D. Cook, Mrs. M. C. Cox, Mrs. A. L. Eagle, A. E. Farrand, Mrs. B. Findlay-Smith, M. Fitzgerald, Mrs. W. M. Forrester, Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Foster, Drs. M. and M. Gatman, C. F. Gibson, S. Green-Price, Dr. Denis Hanna, J, S. Hatherley, Mrs. M. Heward and Miss H. C. Thomson, Mrs. B. Hiles-Smith, Miss F. Holmes, J. A. S. Howard, Mrs. N. N. Jeffries, C. M. Khan, Miss H. Kingscote, Miss P. M. Lineham, D. A. McCurdy, Miss M. K. McKenzie, Mrs. C. L. Marshall and Miss G. M. Anderson, L. H. Marshall, N. G.

Matthews, Mrs. J. Milligan, C. L. Monckton, J. L. Moore, M. K. Openshaw, Mrs. L. E. Orr, H. Osborne, Miss M. A. Palmer, Dr. D. A. Purdie, Miss N. Raynes, Mrs. H. E. Read, Mrs. F. A. Rhodes, Lady Robertson, Miss V. A. Rucroft, Miss I. W. Shaw, M. D. Smeaton, G. F. Smithers, Rev. T. A. Speer, C. C. Spencer. Mrs. E. Spragg, F. C. Stewart, Miss N. Tanner, Mrs. L. Tavener, Mrs. G. L. Taylor, H. M. Taylor, Mrs. J. Turner, Misses D. M. and N. Ward, Mr. & Mrs. E. J. Weber, R. K. Wilson; at £5 ss. each, G. S. Cooper, Mrs. N. Pearce; at £6 each, R. J. Fairweather, H. Trewby; at £lO each, Anonymous, Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Armstrong, P. H. G. Bennett, I. E. Coulter, Major T. R. Dawe, J. Dickson, Miss M. Dickson, Misses E. and J. Feist, Dr. C. A. Fleming, Sir William Goodfellow, Miss C. M. Gow (2), Mrs. J. B. Green, Mrs. C. Haines and Miss A. N. Eglin, J. A. B. Hellaby, Miss A. M. Hursthouse, Miss H. M. Jenkins, Mrs. K. D. Kirkby, Mrs. L. W. Munro, Miss M. Nicholls, P. Rider, Mrs. O. G. Robertson, R. Robson, Mrs. R. Sunderland, Mrs. W. J. Tripe, The Hon. Mr. Justice and Mrs. Turner, H. D.

Warren, G. H. White; at £lO 10s. each, Miss J. Coles (2), Hastings - Havelock North Section, Waikato Section, A. C. Howell; at £ll, Dr. HughesJohnson (2) ; at £2O each, Mrs. A. Greville, L. M. Hart, Miss F. Notman; at £25 each, Miss G. A. Craston, Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Holt, Miss D. L. Randel, Mrs. V. Robinson, Mrs. D. M. de L. Willis; at £3O each, A. Hipkins (3), E. E. Williamson; at £5O each, Miss V. M. Ferguson, Dr. & Miss Todd, Wellington Branch; at £52 25., Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Taylor; at £53, Mr. & Mrs. F. E. Fooks (2); at £lOO each, N. Ginn, Miss S. Izard. Total to 8 December, 1962, £1473 12s. 6d. Ist supplementary list. At £1 each, Anonymous, D. E. Cooper, Miss J. Aiken, Mr. & Mrs. De Pontet, R. Halliburton, H. G. Menzies, Miss B. Macintosh ; at £2, B. Teague; at £2 25., Mrs. E. M. Stevenson; at £5 each, Miss M. Doldee, Mrs. A. R. Legge, Mrs. J. R. Merriman, Mrs. D. Len Arnold; at £lO each, Mrs. G. R. Grace, R. Cresswell, Misses L. M. West & E. E. Ward; at £l2 10s., Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Jackson. Total to 21 December 1962, £1547 4s. 6d.