MOUNT HOLDSWORTH TRACK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8351, 6 February 1907, Page 7

MOUNT HOLDSWORTH TRACK.

In reply to a letter from Mr W. M. , Easthope, secretary of the Mount | Holdsworth Track Committee, ask- i ing for assistance in connection with improving the track up the mountain, Mr Jas. Brown, Mayor of Carterton, has written the following letter:— "It may interest your Committee to know what has already been done by this district on the lines your Committee are working. Iu 1890 the Carterton Road Board felled bush for about two miles in length, from Messrs Moore Bros.' farm towards the mountains, and for fifty chains cleared a 12ft track.. A grant of £l5O was secured , from the Government to bridge the Maungatarere stream. The Carterton Road Board found the Balance of the money required to complete this work. In 1896 a grant of £SOO was obtained from the Government, to be used in clearing and forming two miles of road from the bridge to Thompson's. Beyond Mr Thompson's farm the Wairarapa South County Council have let a contract to Mr Thompson to form and culvert the track for a distance of forty chains. Last month a contract to metal seven hundred yards was let to Mr Thompson. When the latter is completed, there will not be a great deal to do to allow of wheel traffic right up to the crossing of the upper stream. Masterton has lately done good work on the upper side of the stream to the mountains, making it possible to walk along the track. At the present time quite a number of persons go up to Thompson's and put in a week in that neighbourhood, and on the river's brink. Beyond Th ompson's, about two miles, there is a beautiful little flat of grass, right in the bush and well sheltered. The river goes round this sylvan retreat, which is very pretty and off the beaten track, and can only be. found by seeking for it, as its whereabouts is not generally known. This is an ideal place for a camp, with every convenience for water and wood. It is dry and flat, with grazing ground and room for a game of rounders. It is about twenty chains off the Mount Holdsworth track. I would suggest a good pack track being made to this spot, as it is the best place for camping with tents, and the surrounding hills shelter it from the winds. It is a fine health resort, and it would be possible to ride into Masterton from this retreat in two hours and into Carterton in three hours. These particulars have been supplied to me by Mr T. V. Moore who would willingly give any further information in his power to help forward the movement to make Mount Holdsworth an attraction to tourists, and a holiday resort for Wellington and Wairarapa resi r dents." / Mr Easthope has written a further letter to Mr Brown pointing out that funds are being raised in Masterton by public subscription towards improving the track, and asking that the same might be done in Carterton.