YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT

Chronicle (Levin), 28 March 1947, Page 4

YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT

Tramping Ctab ReviewS Its Activities With n, early 40 members present, the Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club held its annual meeting this, week. The- chair was bccupied by' the chairman, Mr. N. M. Thomson, who weleoitted all pteseht, e'specially Mx new members. . First Post-war Year Reviewed In his annual report, Mr. Thomson said "it was just 12 m'onths since the 'club was tevived after its war recess. At a meeting on March ^6, 1946, hfficers had ' been elected and the club recommenced operations with -a membership of 30. The first year had been. one of OUt-, standing achievement in membership, club outings and work dane bn the Waiopehu Track. Membership concluded the year at 90, ladies 33 and men 57. "At the mebting 12 mofiths 'ago it was decided that the highest ipriority be given the re-opening of the Waiopehu Track and th'e reerection of the Waiopehu -Hut destroyed in the cyclo'ne of Febru--ary, 1936," continued Mr. Thomson. "Tonight we can say that in those 12 sh'brt months the track has -beeh completely opened, all -salvageable material from the old hut has been ■recovered, all new material requiffed has been carted to the hut site .and the hut is hearing 'bompletion. In. this great achievement practidally every member has shared in nne way or another, but' We should Iplace on record special •services fendered by certain members. I rrefer particularly to the work of Vour club captain, Mr. K.. M'ackie, his father, Mr. J. D. Mackie, and "Mr. A. L. Edwards. , TheSe three members have given you outstanding service, and no words of mine can adequately 'exptess the thanks they deserve. I would also like to fefer to your vice-president, Mr. W. H. Ransom, who I think is the only man who carried -material up for both huts, the first in 1928 and the second in 1947." Mr. Thomson also ekptessed thanks to the Manawatu Tramping Club, who had assisted. on_ 'one day in cutting on the track. This club and others h'ad o'ffered to h'elp, ■but members of the Levin. Club had fe'lt that they desired to do the job themselves. "During the 12 months 24 olficial outings were held," continued Mr. Thomson, "of which no less than 14 were working par'ties. Th'e average attelndance at these outings was 17. The actual average ■attendance on the 14 working parties was 13, and on the ten nonworkihg parties 18. It is trusted that with the advent of the new year evefy 'biie of our 90 members will see to it that he or she bears h'is 'Pf h'er correct share of work and kespo'nslbllity, as well as* partici.pating in the many pleasures which membership involves." Once monthly during the past .year a club evenihg had been held, .proceeded Mr. Thomson, when the •club's ordinary business was ■attended to, followed on some occasions by a talk, lecture or dis•cussion. The thanks of the club were due to the ladies of the social Committee who had warked hafd ■and consistently in dispensing supper at each evening. Mr. Thomsen then ref'erred to a •shelter and water tank which had been erected half-way to the Waiopehu Hut by Mr. A. L. Edwards. He said this would prove •extremely useful and the thanks of members was due to Mr. Edwards, who had conceived . the idea and carried out the work. The club was also indebted to all property own!ers for privileges during the year, particularly Messrs. A. J. Gimblett, fC. Adkin and A. M. Colquho'un. In conclusio'n Mr. ThPmson voiced appreciatioh to the Minister •of Internal Affairs for a grant of £65 towards the cost of theWaiopehu Hut, Messrs. Harper Bros, for the donation of a valuable quantity of used cofrugated iron for the hut, Messrs. Mudgway ( Bros. for transporting it from Levin to the bush-line alnd the me'mbers of the public who had so ofcen helped the club. Sound Finances The financial statement was. presented by, the secretary:treasurer, Mr. G. H. Kerslake. In the general account the year started with a credit of '£16 7s 4d and con[cluded with a credit of £24 -5s 8d. 'The new Waiopehu Hut a'cc'ofint •showed donations amounting to £8 2s and the proceeds of a dance £18 12s 7d, a total of £26 14s 7d, reduced to a credit of £25 6s 2d by the payme'nt of £1 8s 5d for material. The president's report and balance sheet were-adopted. Officers Elected The officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows-: — Pat'ron: Mr. G.-L. Adkin; president: Mr. N. M. Thomson; vice-president: Mr. W. H. Ransom; club captain: Mr. Kv Mackie; hdn. . secretaiy-fcreas-urer: Miss T. Nockels; social committee: Misses J. CoCkrell, iG. France, T. Nockels and J. Lacey. It was decided to pla'ce «on fdcord appreciation of the retiring 'sec'retary's service over a period of 14 years. - • PfOgrCss '6f *New Hdt The club captain, Mr. K. Mackie, reported that the roof of the new hut ha'd 'n'ow !been completqd nnd about one third of the walls. When the walls were finished there would be the sleeping plat'form, fire t)laOC,: chimney, and tank 'to construct. All the iron w"as now. on the sit'e, but there were some other materials which would have to be tra'nsported to enable completion. • . An outing for this .purpose wa's arranged for April"'6, Jfe'a'Vhi'g th'e post office at 7 a.m., the chairman i

asking that as many male members as "possible attend. General Matters Mr. Thomson said he considered that the club's No. 1 problerh was *tf0,hspoft. Parents could not be expected to make their cars avail•able to sons -and daughters at weCKends, which was .probably the hne time when parents really nee'ded that pleasure. He added that the club urgently needed a truck of its own, and that should be the object during the comihg year. After dis- / cussion it was resolved that members endeavour to locate a suilajble Vehicle which was for sale. It wias decided to make preliuiinary arrangements for outings to the Chateau Tongariro on King's Birthday weekend and Rangiwahia early in August. - -The next monthly meeting takes pla.Ce on Apr-il -22, when a first ^i^, talk, will be given by officers of 'theS \- St., John. Ambulance Brigade fol- ' lowing the business. ,