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The Spike or Victoria College Review October 1928

Tramping Club

Tramping Club

It has been said that one of the finest holidays a man can have is to get out into the great open spaces where he is unbetrammelled with the artificial restraints of modern civilisation. Our Dominion is wonderfully endowed by Nature, and yet how few take advantage of this priceless opportunity almost at our doors.

This time, as in almost every other Spike, we must mourn the loss of another of our most enthusiastic trampers through the departure for England of our former secretary, Mr. E. Beaglehole. We desire to offer him our heartiest congratulations on the successful culmination of his splendid scholastic career at V.U.C., and we sincerely hope that he will be equally successful in his studies in London. This is now the third member to leave for England during the last six months, and we are very much afraid that if this migration continues, we shall page 14 soon have a large and important branch of V.U.C. trampers arranging tramps and cycle tours around the British Isles and the Continent. We wish them, one and all, every success in their new sphere of work, and we hope that their sojourn in the Old Country will be both profitable and enjoyable.

The Tramps.

Fitzroy Bay was memorable for the fact that the party arrived at the Rona Bay wharf just too late to catch the 5 o'clock boat. While attempting to decide whether to walk to Petone or spend three and a half hours in Eastbourne, a lorry appeared on the scene and solved the problem very satisfactorily.

At Smith's Creek we met two well-known and experienced trampers, Messrs. Gibbs and Firk, who were engaged in cutting a track through to the upper Tauherenikau Hut. On the Sunday morning the party was very pleasantly awakened by our friends, who appeared with a steaming billy of hot coffee. We hope to be able to return the compliment next time we meet.

Long Gully and Tekanau were very enjoyable, but as the wind was bitterly cold, all were only too pleased to be on the move again after lunch. The waterfall at Long Gully provided a little entertainment for those who were fortunate in scrambling down first.

McKerrow was crossed in great style in spite of the fact that grave doubts were experienced as to our ability to reach the top. The weather on Sunday was perfect, but the dense bush on top prevented our getting a good view of the surrounding country. The return trip was completed in a motor lorry which arrived before we had had an opportunity of removing the tell-tale signs of mud, water and gore. Nevertheless, the party were all remarkably spick and span when we arrived at Petone.

No official tramp across the Tararuas could be organised at the end of the term owing to the impossibility of obtaining a leader. We believe a party of five did set out, however, but was held up at Alpha owing to the inclemency of the weather. On their return we learnt that one member of the party had been christened "More!" Perhaps someone could enlighten us as to the significance of this rather unusual name.

The tramp down the Wakatikei was most successful, and opened up a new field for future tramps. The possibilities for bathing are extremely extensive, and we would recommend it as an ideal summer tramp.