Dear Sir,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 44, 7 May 1948, Page 4

Dear Sir,

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where, a nom-de-plume is used the name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to abridge, amend or withhold any letter or letters. MOUNTAINEERING HAZARDS (To the Editor) Sir, —Having read in Tuesday’s Beacon of the ordeal of a group of young men who were obliged to spend a cold night on Mt. Edgecumbe, I was reminded of the recent Mt Cook tragedy in which three women lost their lives. Even at Edgecumße, tragedies could happen. There have been, hundreds of lonely deaths in the bush through people being lost as the result of inexperience. Lives have been lost through exposure and accident a mere stone’s throw from main roads. One cannot take bush and mountain hazards too lightly. Their toll increases yearly, and the victims are more often than not the victims of their own in experience. On the other hand, the experienced bushman and mountaineer never takes needless chances. He is always prepared. He knows the job, and that reduces the risks.

That is why I want to commend the new Whakatane Tramping Club to all who are interested in pottering about in the bush, and I venture to ask if you will co-operate to the extent of allowing me space to give a sketch outline of its intended activities.

The first meeting is to be held next Friday evening. Any trips will be properly .organised by the chief guide, and each memtier will be leader of a trip when his turn comes round. There will’always be an experienced bushman with each party. In time it is hoped to have full equipment for all emergencies, and it is the Club’s intention so to organise that it will be able to put afully equipped search party of people schooled in bushlore into the field should there ever 'be anyone else lost in the district. Yours etc., K. W. MAYCLAIR. OHOPE CLIFF FACE Sir, —Some of the Ohope residents below my property have been disturbed and antagonised by rumours as to the state of the grohnd above them. The P.W.D. engineers at a cost of some £4OO for boring, geologists and an aerial survey, plus inspections after very heavy rain, have reported that there is nb prospect or‘danger of a slip. Not one cup of the spoil has fallen from the property and any slips that have taken place have been from the cliff face owned' by the State or local authority; The P.W.D. engineers have stated that no action of mine has . directly or indirectly affected the cliff and I refuse to accept responsibility for the effects of eight, f. inches of rain in seven hours.. When the first settling of the ground was reported to Mr Semple, he was told the property was owned by the son of a Tory Minister, but I fail to see what this fact has upon abnormal rainfall or slips. Yours etc., R. COBBE.