ALPINE MEMORIAL HIT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1930, Page 8

ALPINE MEMORIAL HIT

FUND GROWING. INTERESTING DESCRIPTIONS OF MOUNTAIN REGIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, October 13. Tlie ifUml for the erection of a hut at de la Beebe corner, as a memorial to Guide E. Blomfield and the girls who .ost their live-in the Tasman Glacier tragedy last January, was considerably augmented by an “Alpine Evening” jii Saturday. Approximately £350 will 06 required, and tlie £59 7s 6d received on Saturday from the .sale of halfcrown tickets brought the amount in hand to £215 15s. It was stated that there was a prospect of the hut being built this summer. Some magnificent lantern slides of the Mount Cook region, with explanatory remarks, were shown by Messrs G. E. .Manning and W. A. Kennedy. Mr A. P. Harper, -president of the New Zealand Alpine Club, who presided, spoke of the mountains of South Westland. Cinematograph films of the Alps, lent-by the Mount Cook Motor Company, completed the programme, which will be repeated at the Cathedral Grammar School to-day, at 7.15 p.m. Dr E. Teiehelmann and Mr Peter Graham, who were- also to have spoken, sent apologies for their unavoidable absence. .Mr Manning reviewed early climbing in New Zealand, and .especially mentioned Sir Julius von Haast, who, with Mr Arthur Dudley Dobson, first visited Mount Cook in 1862. He also referred to the Rev. W. AY. Green, who overcame great difficulties in making the first attempts to climb tlie mountain. Mr Kennedy .showed peaks that could be climbed from the new but, and tsated that they could he scaled in good weather and the return trip made the same day. Air Harper spoke of the climber’s difficulties on tlie AA r est Coast, and showed slides of several mountain torrents which had to he negotiated, one of which fell 1200 feet in a mile. Jn that district the Survey Department had gazetted reserves so that the country would remain in the natural state for the benefit of those who wanted to get off the beaten track. Among several remarkable features of the region, he spoke of a depression in the mountain that had been seen by about only six people. Above, on a rock face, was the Douglas Glacier, from-which avalanches fell at the rate of three every two minutes during the day, while at night the thunder of avalanches made pandemonium in the. hollow. Mr Harper showed some remarkable slides of natural beauty in South AVestland, including a number of views of the Franz Josef Glacier, which at the bottom Is only 600 feet above sea level. This is accounted for hv the fast rate of travelling—l6 feet a day. Votes of thanks to the speakers the organiser, Mr A. .T. Scott and those who !>,v.their assistance had done away with an expenses hill, were carried by acclamation.