OTAKI-TARARUA TRACK.

Otaki Mail, 3 February 1922, Page 3

OTAKI-TARARUA TRACK.

MEETING OF THE OTAKI COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Committee of tho Otaki-.Tararua Mountaineering Club was held last night. Present: Messrs j. p. Brandon (chairman), H. Cockrell, F. Ct. Davies, A. R. Knox, AV. Jepsou, D. Corrigan, G. Noble, and H. Nicolson. Correspondence was read from Mark Maxton, which intimated that the Committee on the Grey town side were very lax. —Received.

A letter was read from the P.AV. Department stating that of £B4O voted for the track £467 had been expended, leaving an unexpended balance of authority of £373. The work last season had been conilned to the Otaki side, and operations had been suspended owing to the students returning to their studies. —Members, generally, were agreed that on account of the financial stringency very little help would be forthcoming from the Government for a time, but it was admitted that certain improvements were necessary to make the track safe for tourists.'

The question of holding the annual meeting earlier, viz., December or January, was discussed, but it was deemed advisable to hold the next annual meeting in April, and then decide,

On the motion of the Chairman it was decided to forward a letter of sympathy to tho relatives of the late Mr Harold Freeman, who passed away on his trip across the ranges. Mr Knox suggested that the Government be asked to provide shelter in places for the safety of tourists, and proposed that the various Clubs interested in the track should bo made acquainted with such huts wlieu erected, so that arrangements could lie made for a nominal fee to be charged those who used them, the funds raised Uj be devoted to keeping the shelters in order. He thought a hut should be built at "The Forks, ’’ where there was a good

The Chairman agreed with Air Knox and considered the suggestion, if put into effect, would be the means of preventing irresponsible persons from crossing the raßges. If tourists had to apply for keys to tho huts the various secretaries would bo able to tender advice. After discussion‘Mr Knox moved that in view of the recent fatality all Clubs be written to asking them to make it known to members that it was desired that :•’•] tourists, before making tho Dip. should first obtain permission from the Club ou the starting side, and that the) would be charged a nominal fee for the use of the huts. This was sec-

all Lo'iignit amt carried.