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 |Federation Notes| | 4|
 |Hitch-hiking in New Zealand|Dorothy Hasluck| 6|
-||The Happy Man" - reprinted from "Wayfaring"| | 9|
+|The Happy Man" - reprinted from "Wayfaring"| | 9|
 |Bunions|"Patient"|10|
 |At Our Own Meetting| |11|
-|Letters from the Lads - Nos. l2 and 13|Peter Allan and Horrie Salmon|13|
+|Letters from the Lads - Nos. 12 and 13|Peter Allan and Horrie Salmon|13|
 |Club Gossip| |16|
@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 ===== Social Notes. =====
-The voice of the Sociall Committee says __Here's Hoping__!!
+The voice of the Social Committee says __Here's Hoping__!!
 === March 14th & 15th ===
@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 ----
-:F'ED.;.!;RATION NOTES
+===== Federation Notes. =====
-\ Recently a new bushwalking club made contact vvi th tho President and Hon.
-Secretary of the Federation. This was the Railway Institute Bushwallelng Club
+Recently a new bushwalking club made contact with the President and Hon. Secretary of the Federation. This was the Railway Institute Bushwalking Club and we hope soon to hear that its members have decided to affiliate with the other organised clubs.
-and we hope soon to hear that its members have decided to affiliate with the
-other organised clubs.
+As reported elsewhere in this issue, six members of the S.B.W. have volunteered to serve on the special committee which is to formulate a policy of track marking, making, etc.
-As reported elsewhere in this issue, six members of the S.B.W. have volunteered
-to serve on the special committee which is to formulate a policy of track
+At the February Council meeting the following appointments were made to the Publications Committee: Editor: Dorothy Lawry (S.B.W.) Assistant Editor: Bill Watson (Rover Ramblers); Business Manager: Jim Somerville (C.M.W.) and Advertising Manager is still being sought.
-marking, making, etc.
-At the February Council meeting the following appointments were made to the
+An S.B.W. delegate reported the destruction of willows at "Yeola" on the Upper Kangaroo River and asked for an investigation. A delegate from the Campfire Club added a report of timber cutting at the junction of The Oaks and Euroka Tracks in the Blue Labyrinth. Both of these matters were referred to the Conservation Bureau for attention.
-Publications Committee: 'Editor: Dorothy Lav~y (S.B.W.) Assistant Editor:
-Bill Watson (Rover Ramblers); Business Manager; Jim Somerville (C.M.W. )and
+Delegates from the Rover Ramblers reported that the track from Glenbrook to St. Helena has recently been very thoroughly blazed. It would be interesting to know who the blazers were. Did they want to be sure of getting home for their next Sunday Dinner?
-Advertising Manager is still being sought.
-An s.D.W. delegate reported the destruction of willows at "Yeolan on the
+Mention was made of ex-Secretary Charlie Roberts having been wounded in Malaya. Conflicting reports left considerable doubt as to whether he has recovered and rejoined his unit before the fall of Singapore, or whether he was safely in hospital. It was resolved to write to Charlie a letter of sympathy, greetings and good wishes, in the hope that he had been evacuated to safety and so could receive it.
-Upper Kangaroo River and asked for an investigation. A delegate from the Campfire
-Club added a report of ~imber ~utting·at the junction of The Oaks and
+The Presidont reported that, in view af the growing seriousness of the international position the Federation officers felt that steps should be taken to see if the authorities could use bushwalkers as such. An informal meeting has been held at which possible avenues of service were discussed, and suggestions for training to improve bushcraft, etc. were made. Council endorsed this action, appointed the President convenor of a special committee of those interested, and instructed the committee to go ahead with training weekends and to arrange, if possible, with the authorities to utilise the services of bushwalkers in the event of an emergency.
-Euroka Tracks in the Blue Labyrinth. Both of these matters were referred to
-the Conservation Bureau for attention.
+After the Council Meeting the newly appointed committee met and arrange for a series of weekend camps, details of which are given on a notice displayed on the board at Paddy's.
-Delegates from the ~over Ramblers reported that the track from Glenbrook to
-St. Helena has recently been' V:ery thoroughly blazed.- · It woul~ be interesting to
+----
-know who the blazers were. Did they want to be sure of getting home for their
-next Sunday Dinner?
+===== The Alphabetical War. =====
-Mention was made of ex-Secretary Charlie Roberts having boen wounded in
-Malaya. Conflicti~g reports left considerable-doubt as to whether he has recovered
+Paddy is snowed under supplying demands for gear for A.R.P., N.E.S., V.D.C., W.A.N.S., V.A.D., W.V.N.S., R.A.A.F., A.I.F., R.A.N., A.M.F., R.M.C., A.W.A.S., etc. etc. AD LIB.
-and rejoined his unit before the fall of Singapore, or whether he was
-safely in hospital. It_was resolved to write to Charlie a letter of sympathy,
+First Aid Satchells, Packs, Haversacks, Kit Bags, Sleeeping Bags, Valises, Map Cases, Stretchers, Holdalls, Gadgets and bright ideas, all come and go.
-greetings and good wishes, in the hope that-.he. l;t?-d been evacuated to saf_ety and
-and so could receive it.
+Nevertheless, Paddy still has time to fix up his oldest alphabetical friends known as the
-The Presidont reported that, in view af the growing seriousness of the
+S.B.W.
-international position the Federat.ion officers felt that steps should be taken
-to see if th0 authorities could use bushwalkers as such. · ~n informal meeting
+Paddy Pallin. Camp Gear For Walkers.
-has been held at which possible avenues of service were discuss~d, and suggestions
-for training to improve bushcraft, etc. were made. Council endorsed
+George Street, Sydney. Telephone B3101.
-this action, appointed the President convenor of a special committee of those
-interested, and instructed the committee to go ahead with training weekends
+----
-and to arrange, if possible, with the authorities to utilise the services of
-bushwalkers in the event of an emergency.
+===== Hitch-Hiking Around New Zealand. =====
-After tho Council Meeting the newly appo~nted committee met and arranged
-for a series of weekend camps, details of which are given on a notice displayed
-on the board at Paddy's.
-- - - - - ~
-- 5 -
-THIS ALPH.\BETI CAL WAR
-Paddy is snowed under supplying demands for gear for ·
-A.R~P., N.E.S.,. V.D.C., W.A.N.s., V.A.D., 1iv.V.N.S.,
-R.A.A.F., A.r.y., R.A.N., A.M.F., R.M.C., A.W.A.S.,
-etc. etc. AD LIB.
-First Aid Satchells, Packs, Haversacks, Kit Bags,
-Sleeeping Bags, Valises, . Map Cases, Stretchers,
-Holdalls, Gadgets and bright ideas, all come.and go.
-Nevertheless, Paddy still has time to fix up his oldest
-·alphabetical friends known as the
-s. B. VJ,.
-;....,. --
-PADDY PALLIN,
-George Street,
-Telephone B3101. SYDNEY
--CAMP GEAR WALKERS.
-- 6
-HITCH-HIKING m NEVil ZEALAND
 by Dorothy Hasluck.
-Contrary to the generally accepted idea; · t:h:;re was more hiking then hitching "
-on our 230 mile trek. Do I hear voices raised in disbelief? If so I shall refer
+Contrary to the generally accepted idea, there was more hiking then hitching on our 230 mile trek. Do I hear voices raised in disbelief? If so I shall refer them to the N.Z. Transport regulations, the said transport being mainly owned by the Government and any driver who picks up is immediately dismissed on discovery.
-them to tbe N.Z. Transport regulations, the said transport being mainly owned
-by the Government and any driver who picks up is illl!;lediately.dismissed on discovery.
+After eleven days' climbing at Mt. Cook I retired to a sheep farm to rest me, but on arrival was met with requests from the two girl friends to take them on a walk when the harvesting was over. We duly went into the matter of qualifications and equipment - both nil, but decided the former might be remedied by harvesting and the latter by a certain amount of borrowing.
-After eleven dayst climbing a"!; Mt.Cook I retired to a sheep farm to rest,me,
-but on arrival was met with requests from the two girl friends to take them 6n a
+Leaving the train at a place called Methven, we camped beneath a canopy of trees in the showground, our equipment not boasting a tent, which showed extreme optimism on our part as we were to trek down the West Coast, the wettest place in New Zealand. The next day our route led through the Rakaia Gorge to Lake Coleridge, with a nor' wester head on the whole way. Never have I felt glad of a pack before but if it had not been for this usually much maligned article I would have been blown over the edge of the gorge. At this point the river divides, an island being in the middle of the two bridges and creating two funnels through which the wind tore in a terrifying manner. Finding a sheltered spot for lunch, we then went down to the river, its milky looking snow water rushing by in a raging torrent; seeing a quiet backwater, we decided to have a refreshing dip, which was rudely disturbed by Betty, who was paddling, giving an ear-piercing shriek and dragging her foot from the water with what appeared to be a fair sized eel attached to her toe. With renewed strength we now faced the steep zig-zag in the teeth of the nor' wester, struggling a few yards and then literally falling to our knees, and so to the top.
-walk when the harvesting was over. VJe duly went into' .the matter of qualifications
-and equipment -- both nil, but decided the former might be remedied by
+By five O'clock we had had enough and decided to camp, the prospect not being very bright as to light a fire was out of the question and there was no habitation to be seen. Whilst we were contemplating the somevlhat bleak outlook, along came a Knight-errant in the shape of Mr. Cran, manager of Bayfield Station, and suggested we stay at one of his huts as he said the weather was going to become much worse!!! He not only provided us with a home complete with bunks, crockery, firewood, etc., but replenished the larder most lavishly, for which we were most thankful as we were marooned for three days with gales and rain, a heavy manthe of snow falling on all the surrounding hills and mountains, covering them almost to the foot.
-harvesting and the latter by a certain amount of borrowing.
-Leaving the train at a place called Methven9 we c.a.IILped beneath a canopy of
+On leaving, Mr. Cran gave us introductions to other stations and helpful advice and instructions. The hospitality of the people of the South Island was the point that impressed me most, and Mr. Cran was the perfect embodiment of it.
-trees in the showground, our equipment not boasting a tent, which showed extreme
-opti:rp.ism on our part as we were to trek down the West Coast, ,the wettest place in
+The fall of snow now proved a blessing in disguise as the mountains from Lake Coleridge past Lakes Lyndon and Pearson, presented a series of pictures of sheer beauty instead of the ugly scree slopes which one usually sees in summer. How I hate scree slopes and even more so when traversing them!
-New Zealand. ·The next day our route led through the Rakal.a Gorge to lake Coleridge,
-with a nor 1 wester head on the whole way. _Never have- I felt glad of a
+Our next bathe, at Lake Pearson, was also attended with mishap, a Kea taking a fancy to my watch, which I had left on a rock. I suffer many pangs when I think of it being used as a decorative piece in the Kea's nest instead of performing its normal function of ticking away the hours on my wrist.
-pack before but if it had not been for this usually much maligned article I
-would have been blown over the edge of the gorge. At this_point the river
+Having slept the previous night in a roadman's hut, we were now invited to stay at Grassmere Station, the owners of which turned out to be friends of the girls' uncle. We were made most welcome and thoroughly enjoyed the comfort, variety being the spice of life. This station has its own ski-ing fields right at the door as it were, and ice-skating on the lake in front of the homestead, so there is no lack of winter amusement.
-divides, an island being in the middle of the two bridges and creating two
-funnels through whicn the wind tore in a terrifying manner. Finding a sheltered
+After a very steep descent from some hills over which we had taken a shortcut, we proceeded to Bealey, before reaching which we had to ford an arm of the Waimakarini. The gods were again looking after us for as we were about to divest ourselves of shoes and socks, along came a smoking monster known as a bulldozer, its driver telling us to clamber up and he would take us across; so across we went in State!
-spot for lunch, we then went do·wn to the river, its milky looking snow water
-rushing by in a raging torrent; seeing a quiet backwater·, we decided to have a
+Our next objective was Arthur's Pass, where there is quite a lot of climbing to be obtained. Having lunched at the Bealy Hotel, which has a quaint, old-world charm, we proceeded through beech fora9ts to the Pass. This, together with some bush at Grassmere Station, was the first timber we had seen and was a refreshing change from the tussock country. There is quite a small settlement at the Pass so, after a few inquiries, we soon found a comfortable place to stay at, and very glad we were as it was piercingly cold, being at about the 3,000 ft. level and surrounded by mountains.
-refresr~ng dip; which was rudely distur9ed by B~tty, who was paddling, giving an
-ear-piercing shriek and dragging her foot from the water with what a:,peared to
+The road from Grassmere Station to Greymouth passes through country which once experienced glaciation - probably over 100,000 years ago. The ice at this period is said to have been 2,500 ft. thick. There are many signs of ice action such as scratched and fluted rocks due to the scouring of stones, and the great deposit of loose rocks over which the road climbs from the upper Otira flat before descending into the gorge is generally attributed to moraine. As one traverses the gorge the grandeur of the scene beggars description. At the same time one must give man his due. Hats off to the railway tunnel which pierces the mountains for 5 miles, and to the construction of the power lines flung across great chasms with precipitous sides rising to over 2,000 ft., and lastly to the road, over which I would rather someone else did the driving!
-be a fair sized eel attached to her toe. With renewed.strength we now faced
-the steep zig-zag in the teeth of the nor·twester, struggling a few yards and
+From Otira we took the train for 16 miles and then walked through some glorious bush, which is also a bird sanctuary, to Lake Brunner, staying the night thcre, and then through Greenstone, which was once a large goldmining settlement - piles of stone being the only evidence now remaining of those days - to Kumara, where alluvial sluicing on a large scale is still carried on. A rather interesting landmark was a block of greenstone weighing about a ton. It's a wonder the boys of the village have not considerably reduced this!
-then literally falling to our knees, and so to the top.
-By five O'clock we had had enough and decided to camp, the prospect not.being
+We were now well into Westland with its unsurpassed bush; once over the Pass on reaching the foot of the gorge the change in the bush is at once discernable. The Westland rain forest now holds sway; great stately pines tower into the air, the forest floor becomes covered with filmy ferns, and climbers and treeferns become more numerous.
-very bright as to light a fire vms out of the_qucstion and there was no habitation
-to be seen. Whilst we were contemplating the somevlhat bleak outlook,
+Train once more for 16 miles to Hokitika and we were now on the last hundred miles down the West Coast to the Glaciers! We camped at Lake Mahinapua with ideas of being lulled to rest by the lapping of the water. Did I say rest? First hordes of sandflies pestered us, then, on the retirement of these, battalions of mosquitoes arrived to hold the fort against the invaders of their domain. Being a warm, muggy night it was bad enough being in sleeping bags, but I was forced to put on my snow jacket, drawing the hood right over my face to protect it from the onslaughts.
-along came a Knig~t~errant in the shape of Mr.Cran, manager of Bayfield Station,
-and suggested we stay at one of his huts as he said ~he woather was going to
+I leave the rest to your imagination. My companions had a small piece of net, which I am afraid proved quite inadequate against the attacks. The mosquitoes, I am sure, were quite equal to brushing it aside.
-become much worse!.!! He not only provided us with a home complete with bunks,
-crockery, firewood, etc., but replenished the larder most lavishly, for which
+Three very wan individuals arose at dawn and, with one accord, Said "What a night!" Having refreshed ourselves in the lake, we set forth for Ross, arriving in pouring rain. As we wanted to go on, we decided to see what my powers of persuasion would do, having found them very successful in obtaining milk on various occasions, so I duly approached the driver of a lorry. After a lot of humming and ha-ing, he consented to take two on his lorry and inveigled the ovner of a sheep truck to take me. My truck started about two hours after the lorry, the driver of which on his way back stopped to let me know where he had left the others, pithily remarking "Well, I've left them at the hotel, so you'll probably find them both full up."
-we were most thankful as we were.marooned for three days with gales and rain,
-a heavy manthe of snow falling o~ all the surrounding hills and mountains,
+The next day was fine and clear for the last stage to the Franz Josef Glacier and we joyously wended our way along the bush bordered road to Lake Mapourika, where we had a swim in the placid waters, enjoying to the full the lovely light and shadow and glorious reflections. Arriving at the Glacier, we were able to rent a hut for 7/6d a day; food was obtainable at the store owned by the Hotel and there was a bathhouse in the bush fed by hot mineral springs: what more could a walker desire? We spent several days exploring from here and then went down to the Fox Glacier, where we met Franz, one of the guides who was in charge of the Alpine School at Mt. Cook. He said he wouldn't have known me, and I am not surprised as when I left Mt. Cook I was somewhat the worse for wear - glasses patched with plaster in four places, a stone having descended upon me, my lips so badly swollen with sunburn I could hardly open my mouth, and various other discrepancies.
-covering them almost to the foot. C
-On leaving, Mr. Cran gave us int.roduction6 to other stations and helpful
+The weather was very overcast so we did not see the Fox at its best, all the peaks being blotted out. I had had some ideas of climbing, but we decided to return as we did not want to be marooned by floods. On the return journey we were to pick up a train at Ross which connected with the Christchurch express but, alas, arriving there in pouring rain at night, we found the timetable had been altered and the train was not running, which meant we had to walk 20 miles to Hokitika that night! However, nothing daunted, after fortifying ourselves with a hot dinner at the hotel, we left at 8 p.m., hoping for the best. I shall draw a veil over the first 5 or 6 miles in pitch darkness and pouring torrents. At this stage the gods once more camne to our rescue in the shape of a large Buick car. The god driving the car turned out to be the owner of the timber mills, so I was being very guarded in regard to lifts on lorries. After a number of searching questions were put to us, things were becoming somewhat involved, so we made full confession. However, he proved to be a very magnaninous god and promised to overlook our delinquencies. As he was going right through to Greymouth, he suggested we come with him, promising to find us a nice quiet place to stay. On arriving at about 11 p.m. he pulled up at what looked to me like the best hotel in the place. Said I, "We can't go in there in this state, wet through and mud to our knees". Said he, "Of course you can with my moral support." So, with a wave of a wand more or less, tea and toast were provided, wet clothes whisked off to the drying room, and, after a hot bath, we were shown to most comfortable rooms and slept the sleep of the just.
-advice and instructions. The hospitality of the people of the South Island
-was the point that impressed me most, and Mr. Cran was the perfect embodiment of
+Our last flutter was on waking the next morning to find my jodphurs and all toilet articles missing, together with all the train tickets and money of the party! Again all was well as, after a frantic rush to the telephone to make inquiries we found they were in the car, having come out when a strap of my pack was broken. So passed our last hectic moment!
-it.
-The fall of snow mow proved a blessing in disguise as the mountains from
+I must here pay a tribute to Pauline and Betty who, previous to this trek, had walked very little. They both stood up to it manfully as 134 miles actual walking in seven days is no mean effort.
-Lake Coleridge past Lakes Lyndon and Pearson, presented a 5eries of pictures of
-sheer beauty instead of the ugly scree slopes which one usually sees in summer.
+As I look back on my first effort in hitch-hiking I can thoroughly recommend a walk through the South Island to restore one's faith in the fundamental kindness and helpfulness of human nature.
-How I hate scree slopes and even more so when traversing themJ
-- 7 -
+----
-Our next bathe, at Lake Pearson, was also attenQ.ed vrl.th mishap, a Ke .,
-taking a f'ancy to my watch, which I had left on a rock, Isuffer many pangs
+===== The Happy Man. =====
-when I think of it being used as a decorative piece·in the Kea•s nest instead
-of performing its normal function of ticking away the hours on my wri .- •
+by --Anon.
-Having slept the previo~s night in a roadman 1s hut, we were now invited to
-stay at Grassmere Station, the owners of which turned out to be friends of the
+Reprinted from "Wayfaring", Journal of the Melbourne Women's Walking Club.
-girls' uncle. We were made most welcome and thoroughly enjoyed the comfort,
-variety being the spice of life, This station has.its ovm ski~ing fields
+I met a hiker hiking with his needs inside his pack;\\
-right at the door as it were, and ice-skating on the lake in front of the
+The country lay before him and the city at his back;\\
-homestead, so th~re is no lack of winter amusement.
+He was hatless, he was humming, and his boots swung to and fro\\
-After a very steep descent from some hills over which we had taken a
+As if no mileage mattered once they'd started doing so.
-shortcut, we proceeded to Bealey, before reaching which we had to ford an arm
-of the Waimakarini. The gods were again looking after us for. a.s we were about
+His working week was over; he had pocketed his pay,\\
-to divest ourselves of sho~s and socks, al-ong came a smoking monster known as
+And left the war behind him, striding sturdily away;\\
-a ·bulldozer, its driver telling us to clamber up and he would take us across;
+Tent and food were in his rucksack with his kettle and his tea -\\
-so across we went in StateJ
+If ever man was happy, then a happy man was he.
-Our next objective .was Arthur1s Pass, where there is qu~te a lot of climbing
-to be obtained. Having lunched at the Bealy Hotel, which has a quaint, oldworld
+Our luxuries grow fewer and for us the times are grim,\\
-charm, we proceeded through beech fora9ts to .the Pass. This, together
+But what of all he values most does fate withhold from him\\
-with sqme bush at Grassmere Station, was the first timber we had seen and was
+Whose hobby is the hardships that the wealthier must abide -\\
-a refreshing change from the tussock c-ountry. There is quite a small settlement
+The call to plainer faring and to walk where they would ride?
-at the Pass so, after a few inquiries, we soon found a comfortable place to
-stay at, and very glad we were as it was piercingly cold, being at about the
+He asks no transport but his legs, despising car and train;\\
-;000 ft.level and surrounded by mountains,
+His luxuries - the open road, fresh air - tax-free remain.\\
-The road from Grassmere Station to Greymouth passes through country which
+Tough, stubborn stuff for tyranny are surely such as he\\
-once experienced glaciation,.. - probably over 100;.000 years ago. The ice at this
+Who knows by heart their threatened land, and live for liberty!
-period is said to have been 2,500 ft. thick. There are many Eigns of ice
-action such as scratched and fluted rocks due to the scouring of stones, and
+----
-the great deposit of loose rocks over which the road climbs from the upper
-Otira f~t before descending into the gorge is generally attributed to
-moraine. As one traverses the gorge the grandeur of the scene beggars description.
-At the same time one must give man his due. Hats off to the railway
-tunnel which pierces the mountains.for 5 miles, and to the construction of the
-power lines flung across great chasms with precipitous sides rising to over
-;000 ft., and lastly to the road; over which I would rather someone else
-did the driving!
-From Otira we took the train for 16 miles and then ~nlked through some
-~orious bush, which is also a bird sanctuary, to Lake Brunner, staying the
-night tbcre, and then through Greenstone, which was once a largo goldmining
-settlement - piles of stone being the only evidence now remaining of those
-days 7 to Kumara; where alluvial sluicing on a large scale is still carried
-on. A rather interesting landmark was a block of greenstone weighing_. about
-a ton. It's a wonder the boys_ of the village have not considerably reduced
-this!
-We were now-rell into Westland With its unsurpassed bush; once over the
-Pass on reaching the foot of the gorge the change in the bush is at once
-- 8 -
-discernable. The Westland rain forest now holds sway; great stately pines tower
-into the air, the forest floor b;;.cumes· covered with filmy ferns, and climbers and
-treeferns become more numerous.
-Train once more for 16 milos to Hokitika and we were now on the last hundred
-miles down the West Coast to the Glaeiers! VIe camped at Lake Mahinapua with ideas
-of being lulled to rest by the la~'ping of the water •• Did I say rest? ·First ·
-hordes of sandflies pestered us, then·, on the retirement of these, battalions of.
-mosquitoes arrived to hold ·the fort against the invaders of the:ir domain·. Be.ing
-a warm, muggy night it wd.s bad enough being in· sleeping bags, but I was forced to
-put on my snow jacket, drawing the hood right over my face to protect it from the
-onslaughts.
-I le~ve the rest to your imagination. My companions had a small piece of net,which
-I am afraid proved quit·e ina.dequate ago.inst the attacks. The mosquitoes,I am
-sure; were quite equal to brushing it aside.
-Thr;;~ very wan individuals arose at dawn and, with one accord, S\lid "What a
-night!" Having refreshed ourselves in the lake, we set forth for Roes,,arriving in
-pouring rain. As we wanted to go on; we· decided to s~e what my powers of persuasion
-would do, having found them very successful in obtaining milk on various
-occasions, so I duly .approached the driver of a lorry. A.ftcra lot of humming and
-ba-ing, he consented to take two on his lorry and inveigled the ovmer of. a sheep
-truck to take me. My truck st~rted about two hours after the lorry1 the driver
-of which on his way back stopped to let me knov: where he had left the others,
-pithily remarking "Well, I 1ve lcft.them at the hotel, so you'll probably find
-them both full up."
-The next day was fine rind clear fo.r the last stage to the Franz Josef Glacier
-and we joyously wended our way along thG bush bordered road to Lake Mapourika,
-where we had a swim in the placid w::-,tcrs, enjoying to the full the lovely light
-and shad·ow and glorious reflections. Arriving at the Glacier, we were able to
-rent a hut for 7/6d a day; food was obtainable at the store owned by the Hotel and
-there was a bathhouse in the bush fed by hot mineral £prings: what more could a
-walker desire? VJe f?pent several days exploring from here nnd then went down to
-the Fox Glacier, where we met Franz, one of the guides who was in charge of the
-Alp:hne.School at Mt.Cook. He sp.id h.: wouldn't have known me, and I am not surprised
-as when I l::ft Mt.Cook I was somewhat the worse for 11vear - glasses patched
-with pl:istcr in four placGs, a stone having descended upon me, my lips so badly ..,
-swollen with sunburn I could hardly open my mouth, and va?ious other discrepancies.
-The weather was very overcast so w~:: did not sec the Fox at its best,all the
-p-eaks being blotted out. I had had some ideas of climbing, but we decided to return
-as we did not want to be· m:.rooned by floods. On the return journey we were
-to pick up a train at Roos which connected with the Christchurch express but,
-alas, o.rriving there in pouring rain at night, we found the timetable had bee·n
-altered and the -train was not running, which meant we had to walk 20 miles to
-Hokitika that night! However, nothing daunted, after fortifying ourselve~ vdth
-a hot dinner at the hotel, we left at 8 p.m.,hoping for the best. I shall draw
-a veil over the first 5 or 6 miles in pitch darkness and pouring torrents. At
-this stage the gods once more co.rne to our rescue in the shape of a large Buick
-..;. 9 -
-o car. The god driving the car turned out to be the O\mer of·thc timber mills, so I
-was being very guarded in regard to lifts on lorries. After a number of searching
-quostions were put to ust things were becoming somev;hat involved, so we mnde full
-'> confession. Howover-, he proved to be o. very magnaninous god nnd promis~d to
-overlook our delinquencit?s. As he wru;; going right through to Greymouth, he auggested
-we.come with him, promising to find us a nice quiet place to stay. On
-arriving at about 11 p.m. he pulled up at what looked to me like the best hotel in.
-the place. Said I, "We can 1 t go in there in this state, ;;.ret through and mud to
-our knees". Said he, ''Of course you can with my moral sup~)ort. 11 So, with a wave of
-a wand more or less, tea and toast were provided, wet clothes whisked off to the
-drying room, and, after a hot bath, we were shown to most comfortable rooms and
-slept the sleep of the just.
-Our last flutter was on waking the next morning to find my jodphurs and
-all toilet articles missing, together vdth all the train tickets and money of the
-party! Again all was well as, after a ~rantic.rush to the telephone to make inquiries
-we found they were in the car; having come out when a strap of my pQck was
-broken. So passed our last hectic moment!
-I must here pay a tribute to Pauline and Betty who, previous to this trek,
-had walked very little. They b0th stood up to it manfully as 134 miles actual
-walking in seven days is no mean effort.
-As I look back on my fir9t effort in hitch-hiking I can·thoroughly recommend
-a wo.lk through the South Island to restore one's faith in the fundamental kindness
-and helpfulness of human nature ..
------------------
-THE HAPPY MAN by --Anon.
-Reprinted from "Wayfaring",Journal of the Melbourne Women's Walking Club.
-I met a hiker hiking vdth his needs inside his pack;
-The country lay before him and the city at his back; .
-He was hatless, he was hUmming, and his boots swung to and fro
-As if no mileage mnttered·once they'd started doing so.
-His working week was over; he had pocketed his pay,
-And lef-t the war behind him, striding sturdily·. away;
-Tent and food were in his rucksack with his kettle and his tea -
-If ever m~n was h~ppy, then a happy man w~s he.
-Our luxuries grow fewer and for us the times· are grim,
-But wh~t of all he values most does fate withhold from him
- Whose hobby is the hardships that the we~lthier must abide
-The call to plainer faring and to wnlk where they would ride?
-He asks no transport but his legs, des?ising car and train;
-His luxuries - the. open road, fresh air ":" tax-free remain.
-Tough, stubborn stuff for tyranny are surely such as he
-Who knows by heart their th~eatened land, and live for libertyl
-•
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 B U IT I 0 N S