NEW ZEALAND ALPINE CLUB

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 29

NEW ZEALAND ALPINE CLUB

THE YEAR’S WORK CLIMBERS’ HOSTELS. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Alpine Club was held in Wellington, and was well attended. Several members from other parts of New Zealand were present. The president (Mr Arthur P. Harper) outlined the year’s work, which showed that several matters important to mountaineers have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, and others are nearer realisation. During the year 16 new members were elected and 17 new subscribers. The report stated that arrangements had been made with the Mount Cook authorities to convert the Ball Hut, which is now unnecessary for sleeping accommodation because of a motor road, into a climbers’ hostel, and that the Malte Brun Hut might also be included as a climbers’ hostel later. Further representations were made to the Prime Minister with the result that there is now no Government bonus paid for kea destruction. This will save these birds in country where they do no harm. A sum of just under £4OO was raised and a contract let for the building of the De La Beebe “ corner ” hut. Thanks are also due to many firms for gifts of material and accessories, and to those who subscribed the funds. The hut was formally opened in the presence of some 14 people on April 4 by the president. The date was fixed on the forty-second anniversary of the establishment of the old bivouac by Messrs G. E. Mannering, A.C., P. 11. Johnston, and James Annan. The large reserve taking in the whole watersheds of the Cook and Karangarua Rivers has been gazetted, the representations made on behalf of the club tc secure the extension of this reserve, which now covers some 175,000 acres and some of the finest scenery and climbing in the Dominion, having been largely instrumental in securing it. “ On September 30 last a conference of all parties interested (including members of Parliament) was convened by the Minister, and the president’s scheme was generally approved. A committee was appointed, and legislation authorising the setting up of a board of four experts (two guides and two amateurs) has been promised. This it is hoped will be dealt with at the ordinary session of Parliament in June.” The report was adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr A. P. Harper (re-elected) ; vice-presidents, Mr G. S. Mannering (Christchurch) and Mr Eric Miller (Dunedin) ; committee— Dr Teichelmann (Hokitika), Messrs 11. Chambers (Hastings), Rod Syme (Taranaki), H. F. Wright (Auckland), S. A. Wiren, A. Sutton-Turner, T. A. Fletcher, and J. Shanks (Wellington); hon. editor of journal,'Mr S. A. Wiren; hon. treasurer, Mr A. Sutton-Turner; librarian and hon. secretary, Mr W. G. Mace.

The president explained that he had convened a conference of tramping sports and alpine clubs in September last which resulted in the formation of the Federated Mountain Clubs. At that conference several clubs considered that the New Zealand Alpine Club should work on parallel lines rather than join the federation, as it stood on a different footing. It now appeared that some clubs (tramping and sports) were refraining from joining the federation because the New Zealand Alpine Club’s action in not joining had been misunderstood. Therefore, the meeting decided that in the interests of mountaineering generally it was advisable to join the federation rather than allow any misunderstanding to arise which might hamper so useful a movement.