OTAKI-TARARUA CLUB.

Otaki Mail, 5 July 1922, Page 2

OTAKI-TARARUA CLUB.

A meeting of the Otaki-Tararua Mountaineering Club was held in the Borough Council chambers on Monday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr Brandon). Miss Hurdie. Messrs H. Cockrell. A. \V. Broadway, A. Knox, G. M. Leihbridge. P. Kussling, and 11. Nicolson (lion, secretary). !Mr Cockrell was voted to the chair. | the Mayor being unavoidably absent at the start of the meeting. Correspondence was read from the P.W. Department, stating that the financial position of the Government did not at present permit of a hut being built at the Forks.—Received. A letter was also received from I'erI r-y Kime, offering £oo towards the erec- | lion of a further hut. W. 11. Field. M.P., also wrote, enclosing a letter from the Hon. W. .Yos- • orthy, slating in reply to a letter

i V Field that he had given ills', to the Tourist Department re: y ai' an amount of £BH) (£ for £) for the erection of a central hut, the improvement of the track, and a footbridge' across the Tauherenikau river. He was hopeful of getting the amount passed, being fully impressed with the importance of the work. in connection with the erection of a further hut the Chairman stated that he understood that £2~> was to b* given from the Girdlestone fund, while the secretary said he had reason to believe that Mr Field had been offered a donation. X plan was submitted of a hut suitable for erection at Mt, Hector. A discussion followed, and it was generally agreed thai on account of broken weather, and bud tracks caused through the melting .-now. the matter was one which should be left in abeyance, ami 'lone at a more opportune time.

On the Chairman's s\tgge-tion it was decided to accept Mr Kime - offer, ami to inform him that the work of erecting; a hut would be done as expeditiously as possible. It was considered advisable that .he work be done by the Otaki Club owing to members practically living on the spot. It was agreed to write to the Tramping Club and ask for details of the nil- available, and if to be erected by the Otaki committee to be left to Messrs Kusifiiug, Knox, and Lethbridge, Mr Bra., ;-> . in • '.■-.- of the recent fatality, ■■■ ,„l lie t: ■ t train,',! dogs should be secured, which might be the means of saving lives. -Mr Lethbridge agreed, whilo Mr Knox, who admitted tin- suggestion was good, said it ail depended on the breed of the 'log-. St. Bernards would be most useful, but such animals us sheep dogs and the like would be useless fg the.- would Vie inclined fo follow pigs.—Kdd in aboyMr Broadway considered that ,r-ic-tane- of Clubs should be informed by purties of their intentions to cross the ranges, and then if overdue in their travels search panic- could- !„■ despatched without loss of tune. The Chaiiniau supported thi.- and said search for missing men could be made without delay. Miss Hurdie suggested particulars of ''first aid'' -hould be pinned up in each hut in case of accident. After further discussion it was decided that the secretary write to Tramping Club and Oreytown, asking to foe supported in •■> request that 'our:-'- put their name.- in book-, together with the time, when having each hut. This might help in locating anyone lost. Mr Koo.v said a hut was badly needed at the Porks, w her; there was plenty of material.—No action owing to lack of fundi.