Te Matawai Track Working Party

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TE MATAWAI TRACK FORKING PARTY. On the Friday night 22 keen and avberant trampers departed from the Railway Station under the paternal-like guidance of Stanley Kinder. They were bound for Te Matawai with numerous other clubs to repeir the track to Te Matawai Hut. Arriving safely at the Pipe Bridge we bedded down for the night under a perfect stor-infested sky. Some of the slightly more sensible types settled down in close proximity to the truck while the rest noved over to the other side of the river. About 1.30a.1 nuch to our disconfort the nor clouded heavens opened up and lo and behold, the gentle rain droppeth to the earth. Sone of us imnediately took to our scrapers and headed for the truck and it was here that a fair headed lass who was anxious to fall into the arns of Morpheus adopted the siple procedure of attacking the truck using her craniun as the instrument of destruction. The dawning of a new day produced the first of many surprises -first being the extraordinary sight of a tent suspended twixt terra firma and the stars. I am told that the tent was hung from the Pipe Bridge by Bill (a Scout) and Marie (a Elop) over Stan (the Leader) who apparently lay oblivious to the kind-hearted attenpts of his compatriots to provide him with shelter, The second surprise was that of an inmoral male wno discovered much to his mortification that his shorts T ere still at home and he was forced to wear his parka until fron sources unknown he procured a blue pair. (Fancy pants.) Eventuelly the party left for Ohau Hut where some of us revitalized our emaciated bodies with a late breakfast while others absorbed a stiff brew of tea. The next stage of our journey was completed without undue haste and another snack was bludged or acquired. All too soon came the time for departure on the final stage - up Yeates 600 and along to Te Matawai. The asthmatic gasps and sweat-streaked brows told the tale of which Yeates 600 is fanous. At last we arrived at our camping spot - the bog just short of the hut where firewood is reasonably abundant but dry, flat canpsites are scarce. While camp was being set up we vere advised that the section of the track ve had been allocated was from Te Matawai to the top of Yeates. While tea was being prepared some of the more energetic types got on with the track and after sone vigorous sweat-raising vork returned to camp for tea after vhich a camp fire was built and we sat around listening to the harmonious belching of Titch and David Co Sunday dawned and had not progressed long before the deep rumbling of slowly masticating jaws told that a herd of tranpers were partaking of the first meal of the day. The better of the physical specimens of the party were divided into two groups working on the track in relays while the rest relayad packs dovn to South Ohau Huto The track was completed as far as Dora's turn off vhere because of tne time factor we were forced to abandon operations and head for tie track A definite improvement vas noted in tue Section allotted to the Vhakahaere,Vorsity and Paua Clubs vhile no doubt the Catholic, Hute Valley and Tararua met wita tue same success. After an uneventful trip to the pipe bridge it was good to relieve tne pangs of hunger vith a cup of tea tab-nabs. A clean up and we vere headed for Vellington and work. D. Lowe.