THE MOUNTAIN CLUB.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 60, 13 March 1915, Page 2

THE MOUNTAIN CLUB.

(Alpenstock.) The magnificent response of members since Inst week’s notification, intimating that this year’s subscription is now duo, tended much towards the gladincatiou of the Mountain Club secretary, hut knowing that those who may have suffered the misfortune of not seeing the notice would feel deeply grieved were they not enlightened of the tact, 1 would acquaint them that the pi Allege is still theirs, at the same time adding that the membership of over 300 can only be viewed in the light ot a colossal testimony of appreciation and confidence in the officials of the Chib.

Mr R. G. Christophers, of Hawera, on Thursday last, reached the summit, and speaks in glowing terras of the view. The whole world,.he exclaimed, appears to lie at one’s feet, and the sun rising on the distant horizon was one of the most' glorious sights I have ever seen. Our stay at the Mountain House was made most enjoyable'by the kind attentions of Mr and Mrs Williams. “Hot breakfast mind you, at half-past two in the morning.’’ Gee! we had a splendid time, and are coming again at Easter. Since the inception of the Stratford Mountain Chib, matters appertaining to the Mountain have progressed materially. Recently, Mr Dixon. President of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce. spent many days on Egniont’s slopes, and became so enthralled (he must have visited the Stratford side) with Nature’s wonderful production, that on his return home he set ihc Chamber of Commerce ball rolling, which resulted in a resolution being carried, “That this Chamber petition the Government to erect a new hostel at Dawson’s Falls.” In last weeks’ notes descriptive o' the new path to “Lady Shoe Camp, it would appear—judging by the statement that “a noise was heard of a sea in tempest torn”—that a discovery of gigantic magnitude had been made. I will ask you to kindly remember that I wended my way to the Mountain House and afternoon tea, “No sugar thanks,” and partook of tea—and tea only ?—and although I have gazed in admiration at the waves lashing themselves into foam on the distant I renui beach, my hearing on these occasions was not as good as my eyesight The only thing approaching a sea up the mountain is Lake Dive, and I doubt very much whether any decent tempest would bother tis head about such a small expanse of water —an Eg in on tonial one at any rate would not. No. the “printer’s devil” must have become so enraptured with this Ely yum path that the enrapturing affected his hearing, otherwise he would have heard noise as of a sea in tempest torn? It’s a nice twist to give a sentence anyway, isn’t it?

The Eltham Brass Band, accompan'ied by their sisters, their cousins, and their uncles and their aunts, and a large portion of the Eltham p ipulation, will joyously ascend to the Stratford Mountain House and discourse sweet music to-morrow. Those who have not heard this high-class combination of instrumentalists rendition of “The Mountain is the only place for Me.” should avail themselves of this unique opportunity, and join the gay throng that goes mountains aids. Mr Lyell Brown, a noted botanist, who is just finishing a tour of the world, was obviously wonderously impressed with what he beheld on Stratford’s inlet to the Mountain’s wonders. To the Mountain Club’s guide (whose botanism permits him to distinguish between a Prince of Wales Feather fern and a pine tree) he remarked, apparently still under the spell of the forest’s enravishment, “Your National Park Reserve is truly magnificent, and in years to come will be one of New choicest assets. The many and varied features of hush life have deeply impressed me. I observed, as I entered at the radius line, huge timbered monarchs of different types of wood, flourishing amidst the dark green of the bush. Gradually as one ascends the growth is less pronounced. Lower and lower the tree-heights become. All is cine continual change, both in hues and timber. Now one passes through the most beautiful birch trees all storm swept, knarled and stunted, resembling more than anything, operatic scenery. Then as the picturesque Mountain House is passed, surrounded by unequalled forest magnificence, the beautiful totaras with their dainty covering of moss (which I have observed with astonishment, is gradually becoming more prolific as one ascends) , and though stunted, exhibit themselves in all their stately grandeur, amidst the bright leaf coloured peppermint tree. Stunted and more dwarfed still, the bush ebcomes; its rich mossy embellishments of lace work enhancing the picturesque grandness of the scene,. Indeed, 1 can truthfully state I have not in all my travels round this earth seen in such profusion-, such delicately textured and tinted moss, as abounds in that mossy Elysium. Nearing the old house side, a tangled growth of scrub confronts you, then tussocks which slowly growing Jess, run out ta spungy ground-moss, (and then all growth ceases. Wonderful, truly wonderful. I shall return shortly and spend a week in your beautiful forest.”

At a meeting held last week at Kaponga, delegates representing the chief towns of southern Taranaki, including Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. tor the district, and Messrs Goodson, Crump and Lane (members of the National Park Board), attended. Mr A. H. Guy, chairman of the Kaponga Town Board), briefly welcomed the visitors. Mr Wilkinson, M.P., considered the time opportune for approaching the Government seeking power to set up a separate hoard to administer the affairs of Dawson Falls, separate from the National Park Board, whose business has grown so tremendously with the popularisation of the Mountain, and thus permit the south to manage its own affairs. He also advocated

a much larger and more up-to-date hostel. Many matters calculated to foster the interest of Dawson’s Palls were discussed with commendable perspicacity by the delegates. The perspicacious M.P. for Eltham advocated a new and up-to-date hostel. Lot us in Stratford hope that sufficient building timber will be left for us to erect ,in the near future a palatial building one worthy of the many claims so obviously manifest to all who ascend the Mountain by the Stratford route.

The splendid advertisement cards issued by the Mountain Club are already doing good work in the way of eulightning folk of the many advantages of ascending Egmont from the Stratford side. This card is ISin. by 12in., and is in itself a work of art. It is beautifully illustrated and exhibits a lovely stretch of the road through the National Park Reserve with the Mountain showing majestically in the back ground. These cards have been sent to all Government Bureaux, and chief towns between Manganui in the north and the Bluff in the South. The Club is to be much congratulated on its enthusiastic energy.