Fun and Frolic of a Party.

The editor has before him a “Souvenir Diary of the Kirk Party” (about twenty excursionists who had a very bright time at Mount Cook last winter). Some of the fun and frolic is shown in illustrations, for which photos were supplied by Mr. A. A. Kirk. Here are some passages from the diary:—

“Sunday, 19th August, broke a beautiful sunshiny page 27 morning, one of Mount Cook's best. The scene which presents itself from the front door of the Hermitage can be fully appreciated only by those who have been fortunate enough to see it for themselves.

“With a view to testing our physical fitness and also to obtaining some practice in skiing, we decided to make the saddle of Mount Sebastopol our objective for the day. The climb at the start seemed steep, while the sun blazed down with tropical intensity. This seemed to puzzle several of our party, who had adorned themselves in their best winter garb.

“The saddle was soon reached, and here all comers tried their hands and feet at ski-ing. Some were first-timers; others had tried conclusions on the ski-ing field during the previous season. Needless to state, the latter were well versed in the orthodox slogans, and never failed to inform the new-chum that it was really quite simple. ‘Just bend your knees and lean forward,’ the advice went. ‘No! not like that; you'll fall. There! I said you would.’”