MT. HECTOR TRACK.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 25 June 1919, Page 3

MT. HECTOR TRACK.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE \ SOUGHT. Mr VT. H. Field, M.P., has received the following letter from the Hon. W, D. S. MacDonald in reply to his request for further assistance for the Mount Hector track:—

Dear Sir, —Referring to your letter of the 15th April addressed to the Hon. Minister of Public Works, the matter : is one coming under the control of this | Department, and I have to inform you i that while the £SO is still available for the erection of the hut, I have no vote out of which assistance could be given to the improving of tho track. I have, however, given instructions for this aspect of the matter to, bo brought up when the Estimates are being prepared. Tho vote for th'o hut, if not then expended can be repeated.—Yours faithfully,

V 7. D. 8. MACDONALD, Minister 1 for Tourist and Health SWsttrfff. Replying to tho Minister, Mr Field wrote 06 under:—

Dear Sir, —I have your letter of the 9th inst. respecting grant for this track, and note that while the £SO at present on the Estimate is still available you have no vote out of which to furnish funds for improving tho track, but that you have given instructions for the matter to bo considered when ’the Estimates arc being prepared. I aui exceedingly anxious, as indeed are large numbers of peoplo not only in tho Wairarapa district and along the | Manawatu lines, but in Wellington City • also, that this track should be completed at the earliest possible moment. It is unquestionably one of the finest mountain walks in New Zealand,-and we have refrained during the war period from seeking assistance from the Government. Numbers of tourists, however, have been' through it in u,s uncompleted sfate, but the undertaking is a hazardous one for any but experienced mountaineers, mainly because of the absence of huts, and the fact that the track is unmarked where it crosses the main ridge, and where thick weather is often encountered at very short notice. I have for a long time past beon afraid lest disaster should befall parties making the crossing, but happily up to the present nil have come through safely. What we require is a sufficient fund for clearing and marking the track on the higher levels, and for a hut on the top of the range near Mount Hector itself. We shall then have huts fairly high up at both sides, and also the central ono, and the track being so marked as to be easily followed in thick weather tourist parties could use it under arty conditions with safety.

The central hut would probably cost £l5O, because of the expense of conveying material such a long distance over difficult country. If. yon would place £2OO on the Estimates for completing the hat presently to bo built on the Otaki side and also clearing and marking tho track from Otaki Forks to Mount Hector and building the central hut on top of tho range, I think we ■ should with the funds in hand have sufficient money for immediate requirements. Tho Greytowu Committee, who have been very active for years past, have completed their track, and I beliove marked it as far as Mount Hector, but probably they will require a further sum to complete their work. The central hut is, of course, a joint affair of both the Greytowu and Otaki committees. It is probable that Sl* Hornsby, M.P., will communicate with you concerning requirements on the Wairarapa side. Later it is hoped that the track may bo made available for horse traffic, but we do not ask tho Government to go to this expense at the present time, though I am disposed to think it would not be a heavy item.—Yours faithfully, W. H. FIELD.