All Roads Lead to Smiths (Walls - Mt Reeves - Smiths, 4th-7th May 1956)

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ALL ROADS IEAD TO SMITHS. Walls - Mt.Reeves - Smiths 4th. 7th.May 1956 About twenty of us gathered at the railway stat tion on the Friday evening, the truck duly departing hillwards picking up John Symes and his two lady friends, together with Lou, and later on Pierre Milleer. A welcome was extended to two new-comers, viz. John Nixon from Taranaki and Trevor Johnson, Wellington. (That makes I don't know how many Johns and three Trevors.) The First speech of the trip was made by Ass.C.G. re: President's warning on jokes, language and songs, everyone took note and a censorship was imposed forthwith. The goodly truck driver took his vehicle right up the road to Andrew's Farm whenee Jac.Baker, Eileen Johnson, John Symes and his two, two mark you, girl friends, disembarked on 'the road round the bottom'. route to Smith's Creek. The idea was for John to shepherd his lambs, ( literally lambs) to the slaughter! Jac. and Eileen to watch John. No one had to look after the latter two. We understand they're quite capable. The truck left Kaitoke Featherston bound at about 8.30 p.m, The less said about this bit the better for we had our "Rock-n Roll" expert driver. One poor dev.l made for the back of the truck with the helpful remark from Lou to the effect that 'the rats in the meat pies at Featherston are skinned first! I 'Chuck out'at "alls was about 10.30 p.m. and the short walk to the hut was followed by a brew and thensack bashing, a trial round of "Good-nights" failed miserably and soon after midnight all was quiet. Dawn on Saturday morning came earlier than is usual, being broken quite noisily by Trev.(Jr.) and Iou, who at 4.30 a.m. feeling rat ther hungry, arose and decided to cook their breakfast. However, after discovering that it was a 'little early, retired to sacks until 7 when another dawn was cracked, needless to say they left with our good wishes. When the remainder of the party became conscious, Saturday proved to be very bright and chilly, thus with Ted Dakin in the lead at about 8.30 a.m. our beloved trip-leader, Betty Williams in the rear, the party of 12 had moved by 9n15 a.m. After half an hour or so, the party was infour groups, Chief Guide and A.C,G. went their way via Tauwharenikau Ridge, Ted who was 'taking things easy' had by this time disappeared from view. Bernie Napp, "Slatts", Les Sisley, John Nixon, Bruce Talbot and Trevor Johnson were in the third party. Betty, Peter and Bob the rear, rear. Nothing of any note occurred on the way up. Ridge after ridge being attacked with great vigou; the ground being made slightly damp by the falling perspiration, One thing which was very noticeable to a novice like the writer was the very fine way in which the upward track was clearly defined. This, it was explained, was due to the T. & M.'s, 1 nough said. The summit of Mt.Reeves was reached by 12 noon and we gladly stopped on top for a quick lunch. The view of the airarapa below was really first class. During lunch, Bernie volunteered to leave early in order that he might have a spot of tea waiting by the time the remainder of the party reached the bottom, Not having had any liquid, except in the form of fruit, since breakfast we were all feeling a little parched. Thus at 12.30 Bernie went away like a bloke on a fast pair of skis, Bruce following. We other four at a mere jog-trot, gathered speed all the time. After half an hour or so, Slatts, rounding a sharp bend slipped, sat down and narrowly missed hitting her head against a dam great tree slapped right across the track, It was here she muttered an oath. Quickly apologising, she rose to her feet and trotted off again at a fast gait. It was just after this last incident it appeared that our track had disappeared and once again we rere faced by a bigger and better tree stuck right across the track which was supoosed to be there. We searched around but could find nothing which resembled our alleged right of way. After resting and due discussion, the expert of our cuartet suggested we take to the bush, the remaining three concurred, so, off we went again down, and veering to the left all the while. (It is here that the writer would like to apologise for things said in rash moments. Unaccustomed as I am to N.Z.bush, it seemed that everything leant upon for support or foothold either broke, sagged or completely disintergrated. Iwould suggest a working party in this area to plant acorns for sturdy oak trees in the distant future.) During this period, John Nixon nearly met his Maker when he reached for an apprently stable object, only to find that he was dislodging three dead trees instead. We never heard his comment due to the crashing of falling timber, By 1,30 we were really dry. However, pausing to rest we heard the aripdrip of a stream, Slatt's, getting there first was on her benders, but all she was able to do was moisten her lipse A little further down, fortunately, the stream had developed, and the four of us were able to quench our thirst. At 2 o'clock we arrived down out of the bush on to the river bed. Immediately everyone scanned the river u- and down looking for signs of Bernie's fire. Nothing was seen, so off we moved down st troam. After abouttten minutes we saw what we thought was the reflection of the sun in the water, but it turned out to be Trevor "alsh, accompanied by Joseph Barnao, who had walked up from Smith's to look for us ( at least that much was assumed, anyway.) Trev continued up stream to see if he could contact Bernie and Bruce while Joe came with us to Alloway Di..on Hut where our long awaited cuppa had been thoughtfully brewed by Ted.

We must have been there only about 10 minutes when who should stroll in but Bernie and Bruce - livid. (not really). After Slatt's had been coaxed out from under the bunks, our stories were swapped. Bernie, it appeared, had taken the track branching off to the left, the Cone track, while Bruce, who never saw him go, took the correct track to the right, thus three separate parties had been waiting on the river bed for'each other, To crown it all, Bruce had taken longer to get down than we had, consequently we had passed the correct track leading into the river before he was down. Bernie had waited an hour with a boiling billy of water and no tea. What a mix up. However, we were all,united in one happy family and off we trekked with Bernie in the lead, for Smith S. The time was now 4.10 p.m. Nothing of any note happened on the way, except that we nearly lost poor José over the edge of the bush-river path. We were greeted on arrival at Smith's by the lay-abouts. Thanks are due to them however, for t heir brew and preparation of the stew. John Symes arrived back a little later from his hunting expedition and was accompanied by Don Jeffs and the two girls. Hunting! Shooting! and Wooing! what. By 6 our trip leader had arrived. In all there must have been about 26 bods at Smith's by 7 on the Saturday night, consequently the third floor was brought into use. The way things are going it looks as though we could put a fourth floor, then we'd have to install a lift. After the ritual of supper, the last sitting of whichvas about 8.30 p.m. most bods retired to their sacks or sat round the fire and chattered. What happened after 9 p.m. the writer would not know, he was out - flakers. Sunday dawned as usual, this time a little more quietly than round Saturday: Dudley was busy the fire rubbing sticks together, Îndian fashion. He' d been kicked out of bed and told to make tea. He started off by making tea for four, and ended up being his usual generous self and brewing tea for the whole hut. The morning started off with a light arizzle, although it was rather humid. People confined themselves to their sacks until some unearthly hour, making breakfast and then jumping back in again. A few played 500 and some read books. The Saturday paper was worth a few quid due to its rarity in the bush. Yet another party discussed the rights of women etc. after marriage. Most of the ta lking was done by the single blokes. A few of the Saturday-ers moved off early on Sunday morning, having important business to attend to in town. Dudley and Don proceeded to make rough notes on the rights and wrongs of Bmith's Hut. About 12 noon, hasty lunches were prepared and the company gradually began to make their way slowly towards the puffer. The trip through the creek and up the hill being very warm, in addition to which the track was in a very wet and muddy state. One poor girl commented that she had fallen flat on her back going into Smith's, then she promptly fell flat on her face going out I poor Baker. The language was shocking!

The majority were out in two hours, a brew being put on by the first out. However, in the meantime the truck arrived and everyone was out so we had to get on board, tea, hot primus, the lot. The truck duly arrived in the City about 5.30 p.m. and it was generally agreed that it had been an enjoyable week ende Les - (Ed. note - same week end - and we don't mind if we do have two write ups for one trip.) "REEVES" 3 a mountain top, or a manufacturer of artists' colours and materials. Perhaps both; for I am certain that the Master painter had been at work with colours and suhshine, on the first week-end in May, when a party, of W.T.& M.C.'s left "all' S Whare, to tramp over Mount Reeves and drop down into the Tauwharenikau River and Smith's. * It began on the Friday-night, like most trips do, when Basil the earrier dropped us within a stones throw of Wall's Whare door, but it being dark you'll understand, there VaS some excuse 3 I suppose, for a few of the more energetic and enthusiastic people to dash off in the direction fo Woodside. Anyway Ted it was nice of you to get the billy boiling so quickly. - Note - If you ever EO to Wall's be sure to claim one of the top bunks to sleep on, for although they are not very comfortable, one can have a jolly lot of fun pushing rat's droppings through the slats onto sleeping people below. ( Ed.Note I thought you were an English gentleman, Pete). Well, the shooters among us finally got away to an early start up the track, followed at some distance by the main perty, followsi at some distance by our trip leader, Betty, Brian and myself. The leader had not done the trip before, so I figured that if I was going to get lost, I would rather be lost with her than anybody else. Brian was apparently happy about that too. After stopping the usual 10 minutes every 10 minutes in order to lighten our packs by consuming everything edible, and having a really pleasant wa lk up Reeves, we had almost reached the top, when to our amazement we saw the lazy beggars in the main party only five minutrs in front. If I say that we reached mith's Creek Hut as it was getting dark, there vould be a considerable time lapsr, during which, my reader(s) would not know what happened; and that my friend is hov it occured. For we did not know until we met Trev (Walsh) that the rest of the party had reached Tauwharenikau River via three different tracks and in three different parties - with Bernie Napp still muttering something like n B.... billy of boiling water.". Smith's was really warm that night, with 26 bodies inside, as on Saturday a nice crowd had come through over the Puffer to join us.

The sun shone all the way out over the Puffer on the Sunday and our hunters got their second deer of the week-end without stepping off the track, Certain that I am only echoing thc thoughts of the rest of the party in saying, "a very enjoyable week-end." The Party- From R. to S. Ted Dakin, Ellen Slattery, Betty Williams, Brian Cropp, Graeme Fall, Dudley Morris, Bernie Napp, Iyall Iewis, Trev.Baine, Pete Miller, Trev.Johnson, John Nixon, Bruce Talbot, Lloya Les Sisley. . Pete