THE FIRST ASCENT OF MOUNT COOK.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20489, 7 March 1932, Page 11

THE FIRST ASCENT OF MOUNT COOK.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—lt was with great surprise that I noticed that the ascent of Mt. Cook by the Rev. Mr Green and his two professional Swiss guides has been described by the papers, apparently wjtH the support and approbation of the New Zealand Alpine Club, as the first ascent of Mt. Cook. If this attempt is to be described as an ascent, an attempt which was some 100 ft short of the top, then the attempt made by Messrs Mannering and Dixon, which was some 300 ft short of the top, must be claimed as an ascent. If this, latter attempt oe recognised, then the last unsuccessful attemDt made by Messrs Fyfe, Graham (George), Dixon, and mjself, which wus some 1500 ft short of the top, must be allowed, which of course is a reductio ad absurdum argument. If this attempt by the Green, party. waß recognised as the first ascent, whyj

on receipt, of the news (in '94) that Mr A. G. Fitzgefald and his Swiss guide, Zurbriggen, was coining orit for the purpose of making the first ascent of Mt. Cook, did Messrs Malcolm Ross, Fyfe, Geo. Graham. Dixqn, and Ken Ross make such desperate attempts to get to .the. top ? . To my. mind, the Green atteinpt bears no comparison wi'th the really first successful climb made by three amateurs, all New Zealand born, ana with little experience—Messrs 1. Fvfe, Geo. Graham, and T. ClarK. These young fellows, after making a reconnoitring survey* from the second peak, successfullv reached the top the first attempt up a hitherto unknown route on-the west side. We must give every credit tor Jar »Green and his guides for pioneering, and their spade work,-but to wie claim of making the first ascent . never 1-Yours, etc., . R CQX Timaru, March sth,; 1932.