A Student Holiday.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 28, 3 February 1904, Page 4

A Student Holiday.

EXCURSION TO MOUNT EllMONT. (By One of the Party.) Forty-six niemlters of the Students' Summer School assembled at St. Mary's Schoolroom at Hi a.m. on Thursday last for the purpose of joining i'li an excursion to Mount Egiiicml. (Ireat expectations had tx'en raised by the enthusiastic reports received of the far-tamed mountain, and indeed the prospict of this post-conference climb was a strong factor in helping the Summer School authorities to a decision as to-the plate of meeting. The party consisted almost entirely of delegates, the largest contingent being from Otago. The two travelling secretaries. 'Mr E. J. Wiuliycombe, M.A.. and Mr 11. 11. Holmes, M.A.. as well as the chairman. Mr A. R. Crump, M.A., were also present. Rev. J. N. Buttle, and Mr T. Jackson, ikl.A , with Mrs and Miss Jackson-, of Auckland, also joined the liarty. The smoky haze which had tilled the air [or"some time past did not augur well as far as sight-seeing was concerned. This did not, however, diminish the ardent expectancy of the "Summer Scholars," who threw themselves with the completest abandon into their outing. The 1(5 miles couch journey proved exceedingly interesting. One reverend gentleman emphatically expressed his conviction that "this coßSilry was made for grass," although a brother ecclesiastic appeared to think that tJiis was too material a consideration to be the linal cause. '1 he green lields so well watered with clear limpid streams were a pleasure to the eye. As the mount-am was approached its huge blue mass began lo loom through the haze. r l'ue so-called "radius line" aroused a little curiosity cm the part of some of the excursionists, who ventured the ojyinion that it was, perhaps, like the equator, an imaginary line described round the circumference—in this oase of the mountain. However, it proved to be more tangibly represented by a fence, on the gate leading through which was discovered a notice wauling visitors of the various pains and penalties which- might befall them if they did not behave tlw-mselves. It certainly should be a source of great gratification to the inhabitants of Taranaki tluit they have such a magnificent national park in the heart of their province. A- light lunch was partaken of by the party at this stage, and they then proceeded slowly up the magnificent avenue leading to the mounlain house. The wonderful way in which nature has clothed the decaying trunks and stumps of trees with delightful green moss and ferns of every 'description attracted every eye. The mountain house at last

"hove in sig:ht/' proving a haven of refuge to the excursionists, who, however, expressed suriirise at the ease of the ascent so far. While tea was pieparing, the poetic geniuses of the party were busily engaged in producing parodies of well known songs. Cue of these being got up for an impromptu concert. The remainder of the party were enjoying the natural beauties of this pleasant spot. The view was greatly curtailed by the smoke from hush (ires, lat what was seen of it made it evident that when the atmos|i!jcre is clear it must be extensive and beautiful. The site is an admirable one for a large accommodation house, the elevation (MHO l'cvt) brings one into the clear, pure, bracing mountain air. The. quality of this air was ?oon demonstrated by the keen appetites which it engendered.

The concert proved a most enjoyable one, and the evening passed very rapidly. All arrangements were made as early as they could he effected for the sleeping accommodation for such a large party. The men used the dininig-room as well as the other rooms intended for their accommodation. Frequent outbursts of merriment manifested the high spirits of the visitors. On one occasion, the ladies found themselves without matches. Suddenly, without warning, female voices rang out through the startled night, " One, two, tliree : we want matches !" It immediately struck the gentlemen • that these wolds were capable of at least two interpretations, and the simultaneous response was evoked, ''Oive, two, three: what kind of matches?" The fears of the gentlemen, wh-icih had ■been aroused by the rapid process l of dividing 1904 by 1, anid finding that it "went" without remainder, were speedily allayed by the re-assuring cry, "We want wax matclx I *." Various incidents of a nature calculated to bring aibout a breach of the peace required for comfortable sleeping occunvd ; these were afterwards found to arise from two highly respected and venerable menubers of the conference, assisted by a high student ollicial. l'eace Ixung at length restored, silence reigih.il for a brief space. Once again all the horrors of internecine strife shook the camp. It was found that a senior student had suddenly developed bellicose tniwle.ncies, resulting in an uproar which required all that natural and u'nborn reverence for law and order which has its seat in every properly constituted Briton (comibined with a certain exercise of physical force) to suppress-. The next morning was tierce with storm and rain, n:nd l.he ex]>ectntions of the students fill correspondingly. A slight lull in the weather took place about 7JIU a.m., and gave liie party an opportunity of commencing their climb, Thirty-one students in all undertook the ascent, under the lenders-hip of Mr .). li. Cairnic. from different points on the track (that here winds through shrubs which gradually become more a mil more stunted) \ iews were obtained of the hnsli-clad vallevs. promptly proclaimed us "gorgv-ous." Tiie track proi-.il p.-rfeclly easy to walk in, a few steep pinches notivibhstunidimg. The poetically inclined waxed more or less eloquent on the drupci ii-s hanging in various shades of colour from the branches of the trees. The leisurely progress was now sadly interrupted by a shower of rain and gathering "mist. The French writer Table, in his "Travels in the Pyrenees," describes a mountain climb which he undertook on mule-faek. The view was understood to be magnificent. Hefore they had reached the point where the view was to be seen, the mist was upon them. Table gives am amusing description of the "view." I'or ~„e hour the whole caravan or mules was visible anil mist. The next hour he s-aw the mule in front of him-aml' "encore brouille." At last the view became so restricted that he could see only the tail of the mule before him—au'd

mist. This might almost pass for a description of our Mount Egmonl, experience. We had Mules with us—and mist. Tire rain began to descend in great drops—in torrents—in cascades. He got wet to the skin. A retreat was sounded before Humphries' Castle was reached. We had reached the nadir of physical discomfort, tout our spirits remained undamped. We were wetter, wiser, but no sadder when we got back to the mounlain house. The events of the next lew hours were beyond the powers of the most graphic pen to describe. Wet garments had to be removed and hung up to dry. An African traveller relates that he met u chief clad in a tobacco pipe and a smile. We were not driven to such a desperate expedient. Miss Jones appeared in a beautiful rain-bow-tinted blanket ; Miss Smith looked uncommonly distinguec in a charming quilt which beat. Joseph's coat of many colours all to nothing. The Hev. .1. N. looked more like, a heathen lied Indian chief tiban a decent Christian man. AiikvUkt rcven ml gentleman was a first-class rc|<roductiou of Hie "Scarlet Woman" mentioned in the Revelation. The chairman of the conference, the travelling secretaries, and other luminaries, all donned the skirts. Chaos was come again. lint, the utmost good humour prevailed throughout. If was noticed iJml many of the gentlemen seemed to show the same passion for dress, the same attention to the little vanities of the toilet, which characterise their sex so pre-eminently under more ordinary circumstances. Lunch over, after hearty cheers to the other visitors at tlie accommodation house, to Mr Duncani. and to Air Caiinie, Ihc party prepared for the descent. All good things come loan end. We could have wished that the end had come to this particular trip at least a week later. We had not seen the top of Egtmont, but we saw enough to make many of us long fin- the next chance to come. One thing we are sure of—if Egnl air produces the same effects on all who live in it as it did on us, we could wish nothing' worse, for j the continued -grumbler than to be caught in rain and log on Mount Egmont.