Smith's Shelter Opening

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* SMITH'S SHELTER OPENING We thought about it, we argued about a good coating on the Puffer, this was it, we moaned about it and strange as a sight not often seen in the Tararuas. it may seem we finally decided some- But not to be dismayed, more than 50 thing had to be done about it. turned out, arriving by bus and car, It was Smith's Creek Hut. So the de- determined to see what it was all about. cision was finally made to pull it down With the final tidy-up-the food pre- -not to rebuild completely, but to erect pared and laid out, and with people instead a shelter, just three sides and summoned from near and far, the presia roof covering a bunk, and an outside dent the opened proceedings by welcoming fireplace. The idea being that Tauwharerepresentatives from other clubs, our nikau Hut was not far away and to own members and visitors. He spoke of erect another hut so close would be un- the events leading up to the erection of necessary duplication. A sub-committee the shelter and of the necessity to strive comprising Norm Whiteside, Gary Lund. to maintain the Tauwharenikau Valley Paul Green and Brian Hunt, started in its unspoiled state. He then welcomed planning and the work went ahead. The Mr Athol Roberts, a past president and old hut was pulled down in under six chief guide of the club and asked him to hours and next day work started on perform Athol the mentioned opening. siting the piles for the new one. cerned with the early various history events of con- the Some months later there it stood with club with reference to the original hut a large club badge affixed to it and and also commented on other aspects ribbens of club colours across the front of the club activity. ready-for the opening. There have been Then the moment arrived, Athol cut better weekends for hut openings. With the ribbons-cameras clicked and the snow falling at the Kaitoke shelter and shelter was officially opened.

After speeches-tea, cakes and sand- ing to ignore the bleak conditions and wiches. At this stage the weather was give the impression of having a good still bitterly cold, and the occasional time, but eventually the cold prevailed roar of a transistor reminded us that and most people sought out the comfort others were shivering their way through of a warm sleeping bag at a reasonably a test match at the park. It was good to early hour. see Rob Jamieson, a past president of Sunday weather was a slight improvethe club, and Walla Hobbs, one time ment, but activity was fairly confined, assistant chief guide, along with repre- more brews were consumed, more talk, sentatives of the Hutt Valley T.C. and and after a final clean up, departure. Kaumatua T.C. A weekend to remember, not so much With the official proceedings over, for the exuberance of the opening, but some people departed for warmer climes more to recall the happy times spent in and as they left others arrived, in fact building the shelter, the friendship odd bods seemed to be coming and going formed thereby and to emphasize the most of the weekend. some even took spirit of co-operation which always their beds and walked in the middle emerges during an undertaking of this of the night in order to start work at kind. nine o'clock Sunday. Our thanks to the hut sub-committee The evening activities ranged over who organised the refreshments and who singing, talking, eating and falling in odd made the weekend the success it was. streams in roughly that order, while try- -Bill Rice. *