A JOURNEY TO THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT EGMONT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1140, 23 March 1872, Page 2

A JOURNEY TO THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT EGMONT.

It is not generally understood in Ne^r : Zealand, or in Australia, that this mountain is easy of access from New Ply. mouth ; but those who have visited it vouch for its not" being hiorethan eight' or nine hours ride to the base; There is now a bridle track as far as the centre peak of the ranges, and it is to be hoped f that a similar track will be made to the"'foot of the raonntaiu, and a small' house erected for the accommodation of tourists. The following are some notes of a recent ascent of the mountain, as furnished to the Taranaki HeraM :— - -. ■■/-... On Wednesday morning, ajiarty of gentlemen, consisting of Dr Earle, of Wanganui, Captain P. Goring, A. C., and Messrs H. I. Jones, of Wanganui, and. J. \ Tinsley,; of Napier, started to ascend the ! mountain, accompanied by Mr J. Henry, : of Spring Bank Nursery, as i tfieii 'guide. TV They rode as far as Mr Goad's farm, '* which is between thirteen and fourteen miles from town, and there left their horses. Shouldering their swags from this point, they started on their march. Mr Henry led the way, and from his knowledge of the track over the ranges and up the mountain—having been often there collecting plants from the beautiful shrubs and trees that adorn the mountain radgQ-^was quite at home in bush travel- '■' Hug. It was a splendid day, and the; party did no^ stop until they reached the , highest peak of the , Pouaki ranges. Mr. k Henry pointed out to the party at this -^ spot brown heather in full bloom, which >: was thriving well— the seed of which Was originally got from the heather clad hills < of: Scotland, and planted there by himself.' The party, after ■ a rest; made 1 another start, and in a few minutes were on the summit of the peak. The sight from here,

: i dear Weather ia grand, as a view of the whole of the Taranaki, and a large portion of the Auckland Provinces is obtained. Rnapehu and the volcano Tongariro vomiting np its black smoke are to be teen distinctly. The stay at th : s point was shoii, as the party had to travel a few miles fuiiher. They crossed the ranges, went through a peculiar swamp of a thousand acres (over which, with ordinary care, a person can walk withont wetting his feet), and at hut arrived at the camping ground. Here ended the first day's jovrney. On the following morning a start for the summit was made, and after winding their way from one gorge to another, the party at last got on the slope of the mountain, which for a long way up is covered with a dwarf moss, and patch plants of every hue, which can only be compared to a rich Brussels carpet. After passing this sward, vegetation ceases, and there was nothing but stones to be seen. •Every one of the party accordingly has to collect his bundle of sticks to carry to the top to assist in making a fire to boil the kettle among the snow. In this remote region there is not a Btick to spare. Every one that is brought from below is required to melt the snow in the pots and to boil the water afterwards, to enable a pannikin of tea to be made. The party started at about 8 a.m. from the base, and reached the summit at 1 p.m. Here Mr Henry lighted a fire, and prepared both tea and soup. Whilst he was so doing, some of the party ascended the highest pinnacle of the rocks, where they raised the remains of an old tattered flag, the shreds of which fluttered in the breeze

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for some days afterwards. Having pai» taken of the delicious boverages prepared by the guide, and examined the contents of some bottles filled with papers on which were the names of persons and notes of their journey, besides match boxes 1 containing photographs of previous visitors, the party about 3p.m. prepared to descend the mountain, and reached the ounpat about half-past five. A very good view of the country to the north was obtained, but towards the direction of Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, the weather being thick, nothing could be seen. On Friday, the 2nd February, after having breakfasted, a start was made for Bell's Fall* and the Hot Springs, which Uq to the westward of the, mountain. la a medicinal point of view these springs will eventually become a source of great attraction to all who are in delicate health, Descending a very romantic gorge rich in ferns <\nd varieties of flowering plants, the Hot Springs are reached. They are twelve or fifteen in number, and bubble forth a peculiar unpleasant tasted warm water. It is very curious, but a few foet from these warm springs there runs a stream of cold water, quite as cold as the ice on the top of the mountain. Bell's Falls friamed after the Hon Mr F. Dillon Bell, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who, whilst on a visit to the mountains, discovered them, and brought them to public notice),. is the source from which the Hangatahua— better known as Stony River— springs. The water falls in one sheet for more than a hundred feet into a large basin, where it again breaks through a small orifice about six feet wido, and then flows into the river. The scenery around the falls is grandly wild And romantic. The cliffs on either side are about three hundred feet high, aud are covered with ferns and dwarf flowering shrubs to tho very summit. Having spent an hour or two near the falls the party returned to the camp, and pas-ed another night at the foot of the mountain. On the Saturday (3rd) morning, everything was packed up and the party returned to town, expressing themselves as being highly delighted with their visit to the mountain and springs, two of the principal attractions for tourists in the southern hemisphere.