HOLIDAY TRIPPING IN CENTRAL OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 19788, 11 February 1928, Page 16

HOLIDAY TRIPPING IN CENTRAL OTAGO

NOTES BY THE WAY DIVING FOR GOLD [Written by Hcv. W. B. Scott, for the 1 Evening Star.’) It is earnestly believed that hidden away beneath the waters of Lake Wakatipu is much lino gold. In order to test that belief a diver is now busily employed at the “ Live Milo” operating a suction pump, which is an object of interest to ail that ply upon the water of tho lake. My engineering mind elicited the fact that an old minor on one occasion gave it as his opinion that if gold was to be found in Wakatipu it would bo at tho “Five Milo” and one other place not to bo mentioned. Tho present effort is purely an experiment, and 1 was informed that tho prospects were good. Indeed, I was shown a small bottle containing some excellent samples of gold that had been retrieved On the other hand, another authority told mo that the scheme was not paying owing to great difficulties in tho removal of stone from the bed of tho lake. I was surprised to learn that the diver was able to work shifts of four and a-half hours, and that it was not his duty to collect any gold from amongst tho stones. Tho loose shingle and sediment are drawn to the surface by means of a suction pipe, and dumped into a receiving box, into which any gold that may be present soon settles. It is the duty of the diver to control the movements of the suction pipe, and to remove any stones that may block the entrance. It often happens that there are stones too heavy to bo easily handled. The diver then signals for the use of tho derrick, which is generally able to do the job that tho diver finds himself unable to do.

The syndicate is to be commended for its enterprise, and everyone wishes it complete success, but it is difficult work under very difficult conditions. The temperature of tho lake during the greater part of the year must be very cold. Indeed, its deptli is so great that ono can readily believe that there is very little difference in the temperature throughout the whole year. On our trip to Bob’s Cove tho launch passed very close to tho spot where the diver was carrying on his operations. Tho pumping of air, the rising of air bubbles that indicated the position of tho diver and tho man holding the signal line as if he were fishing for deep soa denizens, wore all objects of interest to the tourists on the Muritai.

MOUNTAINOUS SHEEP STATIONS. As wo travelled by launch or steamer to the various holiday resorts on tho lake our attention was drawn to homesteads surrounded by willows, poplars, and other imported trees. Wo soon discovered that these were the homes of the folk who owned or ran the sheep stations. A glance at the mountainous country would at first sight make one hesitate to believe that any sheep ever lived and bred upon such inhospitable shores. From a scenic standpoint the surroundings are all that could be desired. but to muster sheep upon such precipitous slopes seems a physical impossibility. Let us, for purposes of illustration, take tho Mackenzie Station, with its great flocks of merino sheep. To write its history would take too long, but the original owner is still alive, and, although more than eighty years of age, is taking an active interest in tho work of tho station, as we saw for ourselves when he helped to ship a number of straying sheep on to the Mountaineer when we called at the station wharf on route for Glenorchy. Walter Peak is situated on this station, and rises to a height of C,oooft, with very precipitous and rocky sides. The station consists of 000,000 acres, and before Mr Mackenzie’s day was overrun with rabbits. It is at present tho largest merino sheep station in New Zealand. It has a coastline from Table Bay to Mount Nicholas of at least twenty miles; and if a rider left the homestead to ride across the station it would take him fourteen hours to complete the job. Roads along the lake front connect the various homes of this station, and five motor cars arc used in the wolk of communication, instead of boats, as in the _ old .days. I was asked to give an estimate of the number of sheep that could be run to the acre. I know a little about mountainous sheep runs, and thought I was giving a generous estimate when I hazarded 1 to 50 acres. I was astounded when I was told that it was one sheep to every five acres. Then I was told that tho lake front presents the worst aspects of station life, and this I discovered to be true when at a later period, 1 was able to make closer investigation. When one is able to land and penetrate into the gullies it is astonishing to discover much beautiful country that is eminently suited for the growth of sheep. There are eleven of these immense sheep stations surrounding the great lake. A HERMIT AND HIS ISLAND. One of the passengers on the Mountaineer was an old gentleman returning to his island home near tho h*sad of the lake. Ho created some considerable interest among the passengers, because, on reaching his island, a boat had to be lowered to convey him to tho land. For many years he has lived alone on this island, breeding his sheep and sending them to market, but making very occasional visits himself to Queenstown and still rarer visits to the city. On this occasion he had been compelled to leave Ins island in order to renew his lease. He had gone forth in fear and trembling because ho expected tho Mackenzie family to bid against him, as they desired the island for stud sheep. To the old man’s relief they declined to do anything of the sort, and so he was able to return with a heart at rest to continue his lonely life and warn off all intruders who desired to camp on the island or visit his home. From the island the steamer crossed to Elfin Bay, where our party landed and spent a delightful afternoon walking through the beautiful birch forest to Rere Lake, a small patch of water on the Greenstone Station. The blackberries were just ripening, and made for us a most acceptable dessert. In a week or two this fruit will be ready for gathering by the hundredweight, On Mondays the Railway Department runs the Mountaineer to Elfin Bay for 6s, and to Glenorchy for 6s 3d. This is a remarkably cheap trip, because on Wednesdays and Fridays the trip to Elfin Bay costs 13s 9d. Still, oven then, the trip is good value for one’s money, always provided that you strike a' good day. On the occasion of our visit weather conditions were ideal, and the cloud effects in the sky and the glorious blue of the lake, with its wonderful reflections, formed a picture that not one of us is likely soon to forget. HOMEWARD BOUND. Saturday morning saw us on the Earnslaw bound for Kingston, where we joined the train and commenced the last 175-mile leg of our journey. The nearer we approached Dunedin the greener became the country, and round about Milton there are some magnificent crops of wheat find oats. I have had, at various periods over thirty years, holidays in almost every portion o| put dominion, but no holiday was

more completely enjoyable than the one described in these articles. Otago s Lake district demands more publicity, and with the passing years the tourist will more and more gravitate to it. I had the opportunity of discoursing with a number of English tourists. They were in raptures over what they called tho marvellous variety of scenery to be met with throughout the dominion. One Manchester man, speaking of his visit to Rotorua, declared it to he the weirdest spot in the wide world, and that tho trout in one of tho ponds were as weird as tho place, for ho declared they had their own sergeant-major who formed them up to receive their meals, and that the Natives handled them, lifting them out of the water and putting them back again, as if they had been pet ducks. At Queenstown, also, the trout round about the wharf are treated as pots, and well do they know it. They are particular as to food. Biscuits are not acceptable, but a handful of mince meat brings huge trout to the surface, to the great delight of the young people. Our local resorts are very beautiful, but I would strongly advise Dunedin residents, at least once in their lifetime, to enjoy for a week, tho beauty, the atmosphere, tho sunshine, and the surroundings of beautiful .Queenstown and its famous lake.