SOUTH ISLAND SCENERY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 797, 21 April 1910, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND SCENERY.

NEW TRACK ACROSS THE ALPS'. A BIG UNKING-UP SCHEME. Speaking to a DoMrsnoK reporter, the Hon. T. Mackenzie, (Minister in oharge of Health, and Tourist Resorts) described. tho. proposed, liiiking-up. of the .western roads and . railways .with.'., the eastern roads and railways by means of a track across, the main range of the Southern Alps behind the Hermitage at Mount Cook as one of- the ■ most important projects that had ever been taken in hand in .connection -with the develop-, ment of the tourist traffic in New Zealand. ' •■' This work (continued ■ Mackenzie) has -been pushed' on in. an' economical way since lie took ohargeof the Department. All that 'now'; remained-'.\to be' done . was the section between WelcomeFlat and the Hermitage—a ; distauce of about 20 miles.' ' Further. moneys would require to' be voted by the Government in connection with, the , work, which would cost in all about .£2OOO. When the track was completed, tourists, could make a start from. the Bluff,. going via Wafcatipu, To Anau, Lindis Pass, and Mount Cook, dropping over into South Westland by a pass at GSOO feet, and then soon connecting with the western road system at the Franz Josef glacier—one of the finest in the world—where the travel ler could either go right on to Hokitika over 100 miles of splendid.roads or on to Nelson, via the Buller Gorge or via Otira, 'to Christchurch. The hardier'type of tourist would .most' probably leave the steamer at Milford Sound and''journey as far as Wakatipu, via Te Anau and Manaponri, over a new track from Glade House to Lake Harris—where he oould get one of" the most glorious views in the world—and then via the Routebnrne to Wakatipu.

Mr. Mackenzie went on to say that when the proposed trans-Alpine track' was completed tourists would not require to retrace a yard of their journey, as was necessary at present. Suitable huts were being established- up the Hooker glacier, three miles above the Hermitage, on the other side at a place called Douglas Kook, and another furtkei oft at Welcome Flat. The distance between Hooker Flat and Douglas Eock was only about live or sis miles,' but that would include the highest and most'ardtioov part of tot* journey. The huts were being so placed so that, in the event of bad weather travellers would not huvo fair to go H> get shelter. It was proposed to develop the hot springs at "Welcome Plats. Plain baths only would-be provided, but they would be both comfortable and convenient. "If I succeed in carrying. out my scheme," added the Minister, "there should be a great increase in the tourist traffic in those, parts, especially of the, hardier type :who at present go from Glade House to Milford. In my opinion the tour which I havo outlined could not be surpassed anywhere in the world. Only very robust travellers and mountaineers attempt it at present, but whon the track is completed anybody who is able to do the. journey'from. Glade House, to Milford, for instance, will thoroughly enjoy the big trip." '