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Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1932, Page 4

I The mountain tragedies in which I students and teachers are being involved of late are very regrettable. The venturesome trampers full of youthful spirit and energy take risks which too often have proved disastrous. The vogue of tramping has grown of late. At Home, on the European Continent, and elsewhere, the travellers call the task “hiking,” but it is perhaps not so ambitious as the mountaineering which is so popular in this country. Naturally, the high mountains make their appeal to the venturesome. Despite the roughness of the approach, there is always the appeal of the scenery, to reward the tramp over the rugged country. But when the high levels are reached and stiowfields are to be crossed, it is plain more general knowledge is required of the country and weather conditions. It is true that this season has been changeable, with much ram and storm in the high country. The trampers always take the risk of encountering those risks, nod to encounter the trouble requires good sense, which means avoiding rasline:>s. In the latest tragedy it is understood the victims were not unfamiliar with the risks of the high country, yet they fell victims. There is always that lurking danger to the venturesome, lint robust youth disregards 'he risk, and fate lakes its course. We are always wise after such events, ns to the precautions which should he taken, hut how few count the cost of a venturesome trip!' Tlifeir pleasure and delight is in thf;r work, rad they arc ready for what may come, tin* recent event is typical of venturesome youth, to l ' ils virility will not he quenched. Also, when the news was brought through by Hu*

heroic m senger, (lie response ol ready helpers showed I he fine spirit of the people in rushing to t lie rescue. The young men Wilson and Swene.v ar<* deserving of special praise for their conduct when prosenled with sudden tragedy, while all those who

volunteered to assist in the march deserve ciedit and the thanks of the community lor their self denying

action in tlie emergency

Justice has been done, and the heavens did not fall! Such must oe tlie conclusion of our readers on perusing tlie report of the Westland County Council meeting, held yesterday, appealing in this issue. Recently a fiat went forth that Messrs Jeffries and Davidson, valued members of tlie Westland Hospital’ Board who had resigned owing to a technical breach of the law, were considered wrongly re-appointed when tlie local body performed that duty last month. It appears as it was ruled, that a resigning member under the terms of the section involved, may not he reappointed in his own place; but no may lie appointed in .some other''one’s place, if there is a vacancy. Yesterday when the Comity Council met, the local body solemnly re-appointed Air Jeffries in tlie former place of Mr Davidson, and the latter wa» re-ap-pointed in the former’s place, and therefore all is well. Certainly all well in this case for it would have been a great loss to the institution and the community if it had not been possible to. re-appoint the two gentlemes to a Board where they have rendered sue- valued and useful service. It would have been a direct loss to the ratepayers and the Government (which has to contribute its share of the cost of the institution) if a way out had not been found to the Impasse created by the authorities ill Wellington. The law has now been served in accordance with its exact requirements, and the local body is to be congratulated on the prompt manner in which it has acted. Messrs Davidson and .Jeffries are to be thanked, also, for agreeing to come forward again. At the present time when there is such a- call for close observance of the finance, and careful management about tlie grounds of the hospital where so much of the necessaries is raised, the debt to the two gentlemen who have done such useful service in the two spheres mentioned, is the greater, so that our readers will agree that all is well that ends well.