A New Tin Top (Smith's Creek hut, 26th-28th March 1954)

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A NEW TIN TOP. Smith's Creck 26th,-28th.Mnrch 1954 (I beg your pardon - it is really aluminium) CARRYING A PLANK of 4 X 2 timber, deep into the New Zealand bush would appear to be the height of stupidity, to a fool, but fortunntely we are intelligent enough to realise As I was about to say. McCarrison and Loves trans sport started from Wellington Station on the Friday evening, under a heavily clouded sky with a goodly number jof club members aboard, on the first leg of Smiths Creek working week end. At Ethyl's place we all got off and watched some of the others load the truck with rafters, sarking and aluminium roofing, un der the watchful eye of Bob Williams, who owns a. roofing outfit and so had complete euthority on the re=roofing of Smith's Creck Hut (W.T.M.C.). The cow bales at Andrew's were only a short distance from where the timber was dumped: as one embarrassed lady member discovered on the lifting of her pack off the ground; but very soon the torchlights of the party could be seen moving slowly up tho"Fuffer,"and some of the timber wason its way in. Being in charge of the timber, myself, at the road end, I was in the very happy position of spending the night at the foot of the "PUffer" with a couple of howling 'possums for company. The light rain which began in the night developed into a steady downpour on Saturday morning, and shortly after breaking camp ( that means "rolled out 11 in plain language) two shooters came through and offered to carry some timber in to Smith's, as they were "going that wayo Anothet truck was due to arrive from Wellington at about 11 am. so there seemed nothing to do but rig up a temporary shelter at the dump and await its arrival; but I had just started to tell a a shaggy-horse or smooth-dog story. when some of the party from Smith's returned and we began a shuttle service to the foot of the "Puffer." It was an excellent carrying part when it arrived, and the greater part of the timber and roofing went through to Smith's before lunch. Ted Esler and a companion also turned up from Masterton. When I arrived at Smith's, Bob was on the roof with a ridge board in one hand and muttering something about Bird's beaks, while inside we.s a litter of wet humanity, soaking up tea, eating salami, bread and jam, or anything free; after which came a fairly widespread movement towards Tauwharenikau Hut, in an effort to improve the standard of living. It would be an easy hing to let politics creep in at this stage, but instead will relate how eleven men wont - back over the "Puffer" to bring in the rest of the material, met Dave Catchpole on his way in carrying a large part of the roof and followed by two conscripted 'Varsity females (good work Dave,) There wa.s barely enough material at the road end for everyone to have something to carry back, but we managed to console "Nuts" Bolt with the offer of carrying "Hori's piece of wood for a part of the wa.y. By the time I had reached Smith's (about last I think) the rain and darkness descended, and made the hut, even with its leaky roof a very welcome shelter. I must add here that the leaks in the roof were elmost all due to the efforts of the roofing party, and they'd made a magnificent job of thems so on that evening, with its cold running water, Smith's Creek would have çla ssified at least ++ . The stew too, thanks to Ellen and Esther Mary, who braved a shower bath to slop it out, was gobbled down with (li much Macre n relish and the dishes washed ( it wo.S only the novelty) OR under the"tap(s)". Some of the party went visiting after dinner, but the majority spent the evening at home in front of the fire, followed by a fairly early bed time. Sunday morning dawned with a promise of better weather and Bob Willians was already puttering about on the roof, whilst we finished breakfast inside, and as I buttered a piece of bread, a. saw began to cut holes in the ceiling directly above me, then before you could sey "Bob's your Uncle", m bread and sawdust.'

The technicans were all assembled on the roof, making it difficult to swing a cat around, the rest busied themselves clearing up the backyard or merely went for a stroll - I favoured the latter, in the direction of Tauwharenikau hut, and returned later to find the roof well and truly on, shining proudly in the sunshine. "Pete" Miller.