MR AMERY ON TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1927, Page 1

MR AMERY ON TOUR

PROPOSED ASCENT OF MOUNT COOK. CONDITIONS NOT FAVOURABLE. Mr L. vS. Amcry, Secretary of State for the Dominions, arrived at- the Hermitage, Mount Conk, on Saturday night, and left next day with guides for the Ball hut. From the hut the party will leave for the l King Memorial and llaast hut, a height of 7000

feet, and will then inspect the iiuui take-off for tho climb to Mount Cock. It is Mr Amery's wish to endeavour to climb Mount Cook, but owing 1o a late fall of snow this is thought by Air A. P. Harper, president of the New Zealand Alpine Club, and Air P. Graham, AYest Coast guide, to be out of the question.

Opinions differ as to the possibility of climbing the mountain, however, as ski-ing experts and those used to summer and winter climbing state that, given fine weather, it can he accomplished. fit is probable that an attempt will yct.be made. Guides are to reporto n the conditions. Tt is intended to take the {tarty to tho ALalte Brim hut, a height of 51101) feet, where they will he under Air Albert Brustnd, a Norwegian ski-icr. Messrs A. P. Harper and P. and D.

Graham arrived at the Hermitage on Thursday and with a view to ascertaining the climbing conditions went to the Afueller hut on Friday night. On the following day they went to the head of the .Mueller Glacier, and climbed Eye’s Pass. Both Air Harper and Air Graham expressed the opinion that the ascent of .Mount: Cook would (he impossible. Air Graham stated that the snow was lying lower than he had ever seen it at this ume of the year. If dUmbing conditions are favourable Air Anierv will, later he taken to

tho Franz Josef Glacier, AYest Coast, by way of either Graham's Saddle or Copland’s Pass. In an interview before setting out Air Amcry stated lie was delighted with tho New Zealand scenery. The trip from Timaru to Mount Cook and the view of the mountains compared very favourably with any mountain scenery he had seen. It was his wish to climb Mount Cook, but il this wore impossible tho journey he was to undertake would afford many opportunities to obtain excellent views ofthe mountain and its neighbours. Captain Brass, who is accompanying Air Amcry on his tour, stated that he was taking a cinematograph film of the scenery in New Zealand, and he intended to use it for propaganda.

purposes. Airs Anierv is at present at the Hermitage. She intends to leave for the West Coast via Timaru and Christchurch on Friday and will ‘he accompanied by Air .1. llislop. Under-Secre-tary for the Department of Internal Affairs. Captain Brass will leave the Hermitage on Wednesday lor Lake Tatipo, later joining Mr and Mrs Atnery at Wellington. Mr and Airs Amcry will proceed from the AYest Coast to Nelson.