| Auckland Baptist Tramping Club |
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Saturday Nine members met at Waihi Beach on Friday 9 Feb and travelled to Karangahake on Sat 10 Feb for another successful workday on the Kaimai Ridgeway Track. We worked in two groups with one group of four men checking the complete circuit over the mountain and returning through County Rd. They found windfalls that were cleared by hand. They reported that they did not encounter many weeds. The other group of five removed small gorse and also a number of pampas plants. Our regular workdays have ensured that we are in maintenance mode either pulling small gorse out by hand or removing by spade. The track is popular with public and we met hikers from Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland. Volunteer hours. 80. A challenging address was given by Alex Whimster on “The Earth is the Lords” based on Psalm 104. Sunday We hiked to Te Kura a Maia an “iconic warrior wananga” [learning place for warriors] a defensive pa with three steep sides facing the sea and a palisade trench across the land approach. Terracing was apparent on the highest part of the pa site. We then trekked to another pa site Te Ho on the hill overlooking the harbour entrance, Matakana Island and views inland including our Karangahake, Te Aroha and foothills like Hikurangi. Jill Walker brought a lesson on “God does not change” “he is an awesome God, a steadfast source of assurance and comfort” based on Psalm 47, Psalm105, and Hebrews 13:8. She related her experience of the recent club tramp to Farewell Spit which although so exposed to the elements is growing. We visited the Athenree Homestead, restored and presented magnificently by local volunteers. We were impressed at the home built originally by Hugh and Adela Stewart who arrived in 1878 on the “Lady Jocelyn” an immigrant ship with people of the Orange Order from Northern Ireland. Adela’s diary of their life at Athenree is published in “My Simple life in New Zealand”. George Vesey Stewart, Hugh’s brother. is credited with bringing 4000 settlers and they founded Katikati and Te Puke. |
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