LEVIN'S WONDERFUL ASSET.

Shannon News, 9 March 1928, Page 4

LEVIN'S WONDERFUL ASSET.

OPENING OE.MT. WAIOPEHU HUT.

SCENIC VARIETY SUPERIOR TO MILFORD.

Some indication of the use that will be made of the splendid scenic track up Mt. Waiopehu may be gained from Ihe fact that at the opening ceremony on Sunday there were over 100 people present and the easy grade of the route was indicated by the ages of some of the guests, for' there were children of 10 up to men arid women too, of 60. In fact one family was represented by three generations. The weather conditions were ideal except that a slight haze made distant vision impossible for those who went to the top. Kindred clubs have taken a keen interest in the activities of the local body ever since its inception and their representatives helped to considerably swell the large attendance. / The Forestry Department were represented oy their secretary, Mr E Phillips-Turner, and other representa tives in atendance were Mr W. H. Field, M.P., Mr Thos. Hobson, Mayor of Levin, Cr. G. H. Holdcroft (Featherston Borough Council), Crs. Parker and Falloon (Levin Borough Council), Messrs F. W. Vosseler, W. N. Pharazyn, G. H. Field, T. R. Smith,' W. F. C. Vine, H. A. Mealand and A. J. Hilkie (Tararua Tramping Club), W. T. Nelson (Hutt Valley Club), Miss A. G. Russell (Pahiatua), H. R. Thomson, F. C. Brockett, Mrs Brockett and Miss Brockett (of the Masterton Club), N. M. Thomson, J. D. Cooksley, A. G. Allan and C. C. H. King (Otaki), A. R. Callendar and W. H. Hislop (Horowhenua County Council). ■ ,-: Apologies for absence were received from Crs. Hutchings and Keedwell, Mr A. N. Sinitli, secretary of the Tararua Club, and Mr S. Jones, secretary of the Hutt-Valley Club, also from Mr J. Linklater, M.P. " The vicinity of the Post Office presented . a busy appearance from an 'early hour and all roads seemed to lead to Gladstone Road. Never in the history of Levin have there been so many cars parked in the vicinity of the pipe bridge. The walk across the flat had been made easier by Mr Gimblett, who erected a convenient stile over his boundary fence. The walk through the bush was a delight to all and the last of the tramp.era arrived at the hut shortly after 11'a.m. ' THE OPENING CEREMONY.

The P-resident of .the "Levin-Waior pehu Club,"'Mr E. S. Lancaster, said this was a day that the Club had looked forward to and it was a great pleasure to be able to welcome so many distinr guished visitors and gratifying to see so niany in attendance. Great labour had entailed and also a certain amount of hardship in carrying out the work that Had ip \fflv been accomplished. For instance, on Labour Day, a large party were working in the snow. He then called upon Mr W. H. Field, M.P:, to perform the opening ceremony. Mr Field said that when the secretary of the 'club had communicated with him by phone he accepted on the spot and gave th£ Club no chance of changing itV mind. He bad two reason's'for this. The first was that he had riot previously ascended Mt. Waiopehu and he was anxious to do so. The second was that he had watched the progress of the\ club since its inception, but had so far felt out cold because he, had done nothing. Many were delighted to see the steps that were being taken by the Levin people t!o open up the Tararua ranges at the northern end. They had had no idea of the magnificent tract and less idea qf the wonderful work that had been accomplished by the Levin-Waiopeliu Club within a space of nine months. 'fit is wonderful to think that before the dawn of your first birthday you have cut a track up the mountain, earned iron, timber and other material and built this very commodious hut," continued Mr Field.

EARLY EXPLORATION. As far as his memory served him the first mountaineering in this district was as far back as 1907 by Messrs Lancaster who in 1909 were also the first to make an ascent of Mt. Dundas. Later on the southern end of the range was investigated and it was Mr Astell, Chief Agricultural Chemist, who first pointed out to him the chief aspect of the ranges. In 1908 Mr Astell. another botanist and himself crossed from the Quoin range at Kaitoke to Mt. Alpha in four days. Iu 1910 another trip was made when.they saw the magnificent cover of Alpine flowers and conceived the idea of opening a track to Greytown. Messrs Astell, Penn, Esmond Atkinson and himself got through from Otaki to Greytown in two days,, whilst others were making trips to other points of the range. At that time he became acquainted with Mr Yossele.r, who organised the Tararua Club, which had never looked back since, and had organised trips to almost every point of interest in the North and South [glands and given pleasure and inter : est 'to many in the Wellington district. This club had also been instrumental in interesting many of the young people in the plant and bird life of the country. They had attained their objective and now hundreds of young men aijd women had a keen interest in the beauties of our forests, who never thought of them before. MORE VARIED THAN MILFORD. Mr Field said there was more delight in'a Avalk up Waiopehu ridge than there wa3 on the celebrated Milford i track as Waiopehu did not present so much of the sameness. There was only one superior tramp that he knew and that was from Ohakune to the South Mountain house, where there was an everlasting change of vegetation.

NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN. Mr Field went on to state that for ' many years he had advocated in Parliament the establishment of a national botanical garden, to be run on similar lings to the one in Melbourne. The Masaey Agricultural College should been established at the Central Development Farm. Then Lake Papai-

tonga should have been acquired, as should " also this range' where *' Alpine and sub-Alpine plants could be grown. This was the place for such a garden and if we could riot get it we should then acquire the bush and preserve the bush for the benefit of the people. He remembered Mr Girdlestone, who lost his life in the war, and was associated with him in his first trip into the head waters of the Ohau. Girdlestone had said at that timei" r( 'l hope you'll have all this bush preserved." It was a crying shame to see bush land cut up for farming purposes and men putting in years of hard toil to'try and make a living off land on which it was an impossibility to do so. Our New Zealand hills had a way of recovering themselves if left and many to-day were growing up into bush, but it would take hundreds of years to restore them to their original beauty. It was good to learn than the Levin-Waiopehu Club were taking steps to secure the bush from the foothills back ■ into the ranges. There were many in Parliament who were realising that this class of land was impossible for farming and by letting it go for such the beautiful forest area became a wilderness. After seeing the beauty of this forest to-day he would do his best, with the assistance of Mr Linklater, to see that the rights of the people to this national asset were preserved for all time.'* Mr Field congratulated the few energetic members who had started the track up the Ohau and hoped the Tararua Club would join issue in having the two rivers bridged and thus eliminate all danger from loss of life in ease of floods. . "You have a splendid hut," said Mr Field, "and I feel certain that it will not be long before you require extra accommodation. I have much .pleasure in declaring it open and hope it will be taken care of and appreciated by all who visit it." ! The secretary.of the Club, Mr J. Logan, explained that the energetic members referred to were Messrs Harris, Capper and Richards, and three hearty cheers were given on their behalf. TARARUA CLUB'S GOOD WISHES. Mr F. W. Vosseler. president of the

Tararua Club, said it was wonderful what the Club had done before it had 'actually reached its first birthday, and the members were to be heartily congratulated. He hoped the Club would take the steps suggested to preserve the bush. The objects of the Tararua Club were to interest the young members and get them to study the bird and plant life. Recently, however, they seemed also to be taking a great interest in one another so that it was costing him a good amount as President to provide wedding .presents. (Laughter). It was his usual custom to give a cot blanket and during the last year no less than three were required. But that was good as with fathers and mothers like these, the children must take an early interest in the wonders of the great outdoors, and they would gradually educate the community to respect both plant and bird life and appreciate the great wonders and learn the lessons taught by that greatest of all teachers —-Nature.

"These National parks and forest reserves belong to you," said Mr Vosseler. "They don't belong to the Prime Minister, the heads of departments or anybody else. They're yours, so squeal and kick as much as you can if they do anything with them that they should

not. If they grant cutting rights or plant heather in the National Park let them know about it." Mr Vosseler extended the congratulations of the Tararua Club and wished the local Club every success. AN ENTHUSIASTIC FAMILY.

Mr Hobson said he was not going to speak as Mayor of Levin, but as a private citizen, because the invitation had been sent to Mr and Mrs Hobson. He had to apologise for the absence of Mrs Hobson, but as it was only about a week since she had made the trip she was content with that for a while. He was satisfied that her trip had been responsible for so many of the fair sex coming to-day as a big number had rung up for information. He congratulated the club.on the work they had

aceomplished. It was quite enough to get oneself up without the extra burden of timber and iron and it was heroic for the trampers to get along and build such a strong and compact hut. His family were all members and he hoped they had been of some assistance. The club had his sympathy in their ambitious programme. Mr Hob•spn also suggested that a visitors' book should be kept, and and on behalf of a friend asked the Club to accept a donation of a camp stretcher. HISTORIC EXPEDITIONS. Mr Lancaster explained that the first trip he had made was in .the company of Mr France, senr., when in 1900 they had spent a week in the Mangahao. In 1909 the pioneer party crossed to Masterton and he Avas again a member of the party that crossed in 1911, and of the pioneers of the Eketahuna trip last year. The Club Avas indebted to many for donations of cash; to Mr Jenson for the plumbing material, and his staff for the plumbing Avork. To the various tradespeople Avho had supplied materials at cost price Avithout profit to themselves and to tlu' carriers who had conveyed- it. After the function at the hut a big number made the ascent to the summit. All thoroughly enjoyed the day and re.turned to Levin in the best of spirits, everyone being home before dark. A COMFORTABLE RESORT. The hut itself is a' galvanised corrugated iron structure with a framework of cedar. The dimensions are 24 x 13. , Inside are tAvo compartments each equip- ' ped Avitli eight comfortable canvas bunks and the larger room is also equipped Avith a table and fireplace. Spouting is provided along one side leading into a tank of 180 gallons capacity, abut the majority of yesterday's party preferred the beautiful spring Avat.er Avhich is to be obtaine'd only a short distance aAvay.