ACROSS THE TARARUAS.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 7 April 1920, Page 3

ACROSS THE TARARUAS.

’ A POPULAR RESORT AT EASTER. PROPOSED HUT AND TRACK " IMPROVE AIEXT.S. The growing popularity of the mountain track across the Tararuas, between Greytown and Otaki was amply demonstrated during the Easter holidays, when a large number of people made the trip, many going right across, and others doing only a portion of the journey.

It will be remembered that recently a conference of the Greytown, Otaki aDd Wellington Track Committees made proposals re the expenditure of the Government grant of £SOO for the track and huts, and a party made a journey across the ranges during Easter for the purpose of enabling the Public Works Department to gain first hand information as to the proposed expenditure. The party comprised Messrs Harding (Public Works engineer), F. W. Vosscler (Turarua Tramping Club, Wellington), Walter Smith (Wellington) and Bassett (Greytown). These gentlemen left Wooilside at about 8 a.m. on Saturday. Air Vosscler has kindly supplied us with the following brief details of the trip:— “We had the benefit of three good horses to Alpha, which made our going easy, as some of the party could ride a portion of the way, and the horses carried the swags. At the Taiihereniknu a gooff site was located, measurements taken, and blazing done in connection with the proposed boatswain’s chair across the river.

“Tlie weather on top was thick, with an occasional lift when the sun broke through. AYe had neither wind nor

rain. The needs of the track across the mountain tops were gone into carefully by Air Harding, and measurements taken. The hut site, under Hector, in the saddle between Hector and Field Peak, was also viewed. We overlooked the Alpha hut. where the question of extension was also gone into. We also scouted rohnd Table Top and Tirotiro Point, where the new hut is to be built. Either site is good, and as the Otaki committee appears to fancy the higher one—to which I don’t think anyone will object—let it be there!

“As Air Harding went over from end to end, I have no doubt he will have some estimates and suggestions te offer.' The Alpha hut additions, to be satisfactory, will be more costly than

we estimated. “We had our tea at the new hut (“Te Moemoea”) on Wunday, and then came down and bunked in Air Knox’s woolslied. Air Russling gave Afessrs HaTding and Vosscler a lift to Otaki on Easter Alonday morning, and also took the packs.” A number of others, bringing the total of the party up to 14, joined the Government, engineer and others on the way acoss the mountains, and the whole fourteen came right through to Otaki. »

Afr Vosscler left at the Aft. Alpha hut. on behalf of the Tara run Tramping Club, a fair supply of emergency rations, with a terse, trenchant note ■note regarding the use of asme. It is to be hoped that visitors tu the hut will resepect the conditions re these rations, which should only be used in case of emergency.

Some representatives of the Otaki Track Committee were to have met the Government engineer and party at Mt. Hector on Easter Monday, but as the latter party got through to Otaki a day ahead of schedule time, the Otaki men did not make the trip.