THROUGH TO EKETAHUNA.

Shannon News, 3 February 1922, Page 3

THROUGH TO EKETAHUNA.

■l l . -. i- - A LEVIN EXPEDITION. The opinion is held by Mr D. Smart and other Levin residents that a route over the Tararuas to the Wairarapa side of the range can be found with a grade that will provide no serious obstacle to travel. Mr Smart has interested himself in the matter for some years, and through his energy and initiative a party has been arranged to cross the range from the Levin side on Wednesday, February 22.

Some six months ago the desirability of having such a track was brought up by the Levin Chamber,of Commerce, when it was pointed out that connection between the Wairarapa and Horovvhenua districts would " provide an easy and convenient route lor cattle for the stock sales on this side, or vice versa, which is impossible now on account of the extent- of travelling necessary via the Manawatu Gorge or Pahiatua track. ATTACKING THE BIG RIDGE.

Mr Smart states that his party will set out from the fieacl of Gladstone Read, the objective being the head of the Eketahuna road on the eastern side, the distance from point to point as the crow flies henig seven miles, which includes some heavy bush tra- ‘ veiling and the fording of the Mangahao and Mangatainoka rivers. From the head of Gladstone Road the party will be divided into three or four sections, and all will take differentroutes, so that at the end of the j°nraey, when they will come together again, they will be able to compare votes, and it should not be a difficult matter then to decide which is the easiest of the routes for the purpose, of cutting a track. When the parties separate on commencing the journey, one will converge to the north and the other, to the south, whilst two other parties will work parallel with them on interior lines: Leaving Gladstone Road at 7 a.m., Mr Smart considers that the most difficult part of the journey will lie directly ahead of the travellers in what is known as the big ridge, which will be rough uphill going in heavy bush. Lunch time, however, should see the summit of the ridge surmounted at different points by the four parties, and it is proposed that they will close in on the top and lunch together. The travellers will’ take up their positions again and push on during the afternoon towards the Mangahao River, the party camping the night on t(he western side, at a spot in a direct line about three and a-half miles from the starting point. At the Mangahao River it is estimated that the northern and southern parties , will be four miles apart, with the other two parties between them. On I the eastern side of the. river, Ms Smart lias arranged for a meeting with a I party of Eketaliuna citizens, and from i there the two parties will complete the j remainder of the journey to Eketaliuna ! together. Even if the Eketaliuna pcoj pie are prevented from keeping the | appointment, Hie Levin travellers will go on to their objective. The members can then please themselves as to their homeward journey—by rail from Eketaliuna- or back over the ranges. Messrs. W. N. Anderson and C. W. j Foster will be in charge of the parties | that will diverge north and south, and ! Messrs. C. H. Bould and G. L. Adkin of the remaining sections. The following have signified their intention of making the trip: Messrs. \V \ Anderson, County Engineer, C. W.

Foster (surveyor), G. L. Adkin, C. H. Bould, I). Smart. W. H. Field, M.P., D. W. Matheson, C. H. Martin, representative from Chronicle. E. S. Lancaster, R. McAllister, J. Pollock, J. C. Mlines, T. Walker, F. Roe, T. Hobson, Kf Aitken, .7. McLeavey. F. Rout-ley, J. W. Procter, S. Gilbert, W. S. Park, A. M. Hunter, and W. M. Beckett.