H.—2

6

year. Tents have been provided to give additional accommodation at the cottage when required. The cart-road to the cottage has been kept in repair, and a survey for a permanent motor-road has been made by the Public Works Department. A track has been formed from the Whakapapanui cottage up the lower slopes of Ruapehu, and a commencement made on one leading to the Tama Lakes at Ngauruhoe. A new mountain hut has been built on the south-west side of Mount Ruapehu,'and repairs done on the track connecting it with Ohakune. The extension of Whakapapanui hut is now under consideration —or, rather, the erection of a similar hut and a caretaker's cottage. Hermitage. This resort was largely used during the season, with the result of an increase in revenue of £684. Unfortunately, owing to several changes in management, due to the breakdown of the manager in health and the appointment of a temporary one, and other causes, the expenditure has increased to a larger extent than was anticipated, and resulted in an augmentation of £2,092. It is confidently expected that this amount will be reduced during the coming season. The heavy cost of cartage of goods ninety-six miles from the rail-head by lorry is a tremendous factor in the expenditure at the Hermitage. During the year the place was visited by 963 people, of whom 424 were from the South Island, 371 from overseas, and 168 from the North Island. Of this total number approximately 820 were conveyed by the motor company, the remaining 143 arriving by private car. The returns for the year for guides' fees, horse-hire, and equipment were £889 19s. Id., as compared with £945 16s. Id. for last year's taking, showing a decrease of £55 17s. The decrease is due to some extent to the fact that several climbers who have been coming annually to the mountains cancelled their engagements and did not visit the Hermitage this summer, owing to the increase in the motor-company fares and the extra tariff at the hostel. The added expense also influenced a number of people in curtailing the number of excursions they wished to make. The weather, too, was very unsettled and changeable, and frequent falls of snow on the higher peaks made the conditions bad for the more serious climbs. During the early part of last winter the, material (weighing about a ton) for a new bivouac to be placed on Mount Cook, at the head of the Hooker Glacier, was conveyed up the Hooker Valley to a point beyond the Hooker hut but owing to bad weather and the broken nature of the, glacier the staff were! unable to complete the work. The repairs to all the different tracks were put in hand, and these were kept in good order throughout the year. The alpine huts were also kept well supplied with provisions. The chamois and thar on the reserves-have frequently been seen during the season, and, when able, to get a near view of them, all appeared to be in excellent condition. Though this was not a good climbing year, a few high ascents have been successfully accomplished, the most difficult one being the ascent of Mount La' Perouse by Mr. H. Chambers, of Hawke's Bay. Though it is the second ascent of the mountain, it is the first time it has been climbed from the eastern side, which meant a very long climb and a traverse, of two other peaks before the, summit could be reached. The first ascent was made from the La Perouse Valley, Westland side, on the Ist February, 1906, by Dr. E. Teichelmann, Rev. 11. E. Newton, Messrs. R. S. Low and A. Graham. Besides the high ascents recorded as under, the following minor climbs were also made : Two ascents of Hochstetter Dome ; four ascents of Glacier Dome ; four traverses of Mount Wakefield ; four ascents and two crossings of Mount Kitchener ; five ascents and two traverses of Mount Annette; three ascents and three crossings of the Copland Pass ; two crossings of Graham's Saddle ; three ascents and one crossing of Barron's Saddle. Mounts Ollivier and Sebastopol, Scaly Range, were also ascended several times. Included in the following list of climbs is a number of first ascents made at the head of the Godley Valley by Mr. W. A. Kennedy's party during a visit to that district in January: —

List of High Ascents at Hermitage during Season 1920-21.

Date. Name of Peak. Height, In Feet. Climbed by Name of Guide. Iloute and Remarks. 1920. April 5 Mount Darby Mr. F. Rolleston, Mr. Holtz Mr, H. Chambers, Mr. I). McPherson P. Graham Traverse — ascent by north arete ; descent, east face. Ascent by west arSte ; descent by Mona Glacier from Hooker hut. 8,287 Dec. 29 Pibrac Peak 8,472 P. Graham 1921. Jan. 3 Unnamed peak between Mount Potorman and Mount McClurc (Godley district) Mount Cuminc (Godley district) 7,400 (about) Mr. W. A. Kennedy, Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Sutton Turner J. Lippe .. Ascent from high bivouac on east side of Godley Glacier under Mount D'Archiac (first ascent). First ascent from above bivouac. Jan. 5 8,223 Mr. W. A. Kennedy, Mr. Sutton Turner, Mr. J. Anderson Mr. W. A. Kennedy .. J. Lippe .. Jan. 7 Mount Wolseley (Godley district) 8,438 J. Lippe .. Ascent and descent by eastern arete (first ascent from above bivouac). Ascent by western face from Aimer bivouac. Jan. 7 Mount Jervois 8,675 Mr. H. A. Jpll, Miss Lorimer, Mrs. Bradford Mr. H. Chambers (Cuideless) Jan. 6 Mount Jellico Mount Low 9,400 9,653 P. Craham Ascent and descent by northeast arete from bivouac in at_-.i; T> 1