MOUNT HOLDSWORTH TRACK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8998, 7 December 1907, Page 5

MOUNT HOLDSWORTH TRACK.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Mt. Holdsworth Track Committee was held last eveningl. Mr J. C. Ewington presided over a large attendance. Mr D. McGregor, who was chiefly responsible for supervising the work of erecting the accommodation hut on the mountain, and the general clearing of the track, said that there was now a new track up the mountain, and it was a much better one than the old one. It was now possible to ride on horseback as far as the hut, and tourists could easily ascend the mountain and return in a day. The cottage had been furnished, with the exception of a number of rnattrasses, which were still required. He submitted a statement of accounts, showing that the receipts of the committee hal been altogether £97 Us 6d. Of this amount £35 was portion of the £SO grant promised by the Tourist Department, and the remainder had been raised by public subscription. On the expenditure side, the erection of the house and the widening of the track Lad cost £59 4s; £36 8s had been devoted to clearing the track, and labour had absorbed £9 10s. There was a deficiency of £36 lis lOd, and this was chiefly brought about by having to pay men to do the work of clearing, etc., and which had been delayed by wet weather. The sum of £ls had yet to be received from the Tourist Department, and so £2l Us lOd remained to be collected to absolve the committee of all liabilities. A peculiar feature in connection with the subscriptions was that the bulk of them had been donated by country people. He thought it was now time that the townspeople helped a little, and so assist the committee to pay the liabilites, and do further work if necessary. He suggested that a small committee .might be appointed to canvass the town for subscriptions. He formally moved the adoption of the balance sheet. j This motion was seconded by Mr C, Bannister, and after a number of speakers had referred in laud • atory terms to the capable manner in which Mr McGregor had carried out his duties, was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr D. Dobson, seconded by Mr J. Elliott, a vote of thanks was accorded to the building committee for their services. A committee consisting of Messrs R. Brown, A. Hathaway, R. J. Young, J. C. Ewington and Wm. Easthope was appointed to canvass the town for subscriptions towards further improving the track and meeting the present liabilities. Messrs D. McGregor, C. Bannister, H. Evans, J. Dagg, H. Perry, A. Roydhouse and G. R.Sykes were appointed a committee to canvass the neighbouring country districts for a similar purpose. .After some discussion as to the best means of obtaining revenue from persons visiting the mountain, it was decided to provide Mr H. C. Thomson, who lives at the foot of the mountain, with a visitor's book, and to ask him to receive donations from visitors towards the fund for improving the' track. Daring the discussion on the subject it was stated that the committee would expect persons visiting the mountain to donate Is per head at least. The secretary stated that it was highly probable that Mr T. E. Donne, superintendent of the Tourist Department, would visit Masterton during the present month, and in the event of his coming, it was decided that the committee should wait on him to bring under his notice the question of appointing a custodian to the mountain. Should Mr Donne not come to Masterton, it was resolved to write to him with reference to the same matter.

On the motion of Mr Bannister, it was derided to write to the Lands Department asking for permission to fell and grass about five acres on the mountain reserve, and set it aside as a horse paddock. Messrs Turner, Brown, Temple, McGregor and Waddington were appointed a committee to frame regulations controlling the occupation of the mountain house, and post them up in the building. The secretary was instructed to make enquiries with regard to the question of insuring the mountain hut. After a general discussion on various suggestions, the meeting adjourned.