NEW ROUTE IN GORGE?

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1940, Page 4

NEW ROUTE IN GORGE?

MOUNTAINSIDE SAFETY STRATFORD DISCUSSION Following the fatal accident in Manganui Gorge, East Egmont, on Sunday afternoon the Stratford Mountain Club will survey a new route for a track through the gorge. Details of the route will be presented to the National Park Board's East Committee, and the advice of a professional engineer will then be sought. This decision was made at a meeting of the East Committee at Stratford when an offer to survey a new route was received from the mountain club. "In view of the recent fatality in the Manganui Gorge, it was desired to draw the committee's attention to the urgent need for action in the matter," stated the club's letter. "The question was raised at a previous meeting when a deputation from the mountain club waited on the committee. There was a very grave danger of failing rock in the Manganui Gorge. "The gorge is, in our opinion, not only dangerous to visitors, but dangerous to every member, of a mountain club who ventures along the track to the Manga-, nui hut," continued the letter. "Many of our women members have become too nervous to travel through the gorge and we believe that if we do not make a move now to have a new track construcfed, the growing popularity of East Egmont will be greatly affected. "We would like to point out that the gorge during the winter months, when people climb to the hut under snow conditions, is not to be compared with the safe tracks leading to the other huts on the north and south sides. We believe that any further money spent on the gorge would be unprofitable and that the only solution is a new track cutting out the danger of the gorge. We are of the opinion that a new track can be put through and we are willing to assist in surveying the route." In support of the mountain club's letter, Mr. F. Addis, club secretary, who is a member of the East Committee, said that Mr. H. Murray, Eltham, had reviewed the area and considered an alternative route was practicable. The proposed route, said Mr. Addis, would begin where the present track rounded the bluff at the gorge entrance and would run back in an easterly direction for about 100 yards and down into the gorge. A practicable route would then have to be found up and out of the gorge. Mr. J. B. Richards considered that the mountain club should submit details. The proposal could then be submitted to the Public Works Department for one of its engineers to make a report. The club was definite that a new route could be made. but details were required before a decision could be made.