Y.M.C.A Tour To Wostland

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1922, Page 4

Y.M.C.A Tour To Wostland

Oii ARMS OF WEST COAST . . SOUNE'rT. I (Lyttelton Times.) i ' The walking tour by fifty members of j the Y.M.C.A. on the West Coast ap- ; pears to have been interesting from j start to finish. In ten days the walk- | ers covered 105 miles and spent four days of camping at Lake Kanieri. Tak- j ing train to Arthur’s Pass on Boxing Day they walked through the Ctira Gorge and on to Aicken’s (a distance of about eighteen miles), where they camped for tlie night in Mr D. Jackson’s woolshed. Next day they walked thirteen miles before luncheon which was generously provided at the Taipo River by Mr and Mrs Cunningham. The camping place for the nigl)t was the , Kumara Town Hall kindly lent by the Borough Council. On the Wednesday ! morning the party walked ‘in heavy j rain to Kumara Junction and took | train down the Coast to Hokitika. Here ! they were met by the president of the j i Progress League (Mr W. Jeffries), Secretary (Mv‘J. W. Morris), the Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) and a number of leading citizens. After a complimentary luncheon at Preston’s, the Hampers set out on the final stage of thirteen miles to Lake Kanieri where (he accommodation house of the Acclimatisation Society was kindly placed i at their disposal. I Tlie members returned in various |]• at;ties, the last reaching town on

Thursday evening. They seem, to have thoroughly enjoyetß the outing and none can speak t'oo highly of the great hospitality which was met with throughout the trip. '

The walkers speak glowingly of the scenery- mountain and forest, river and lake. They describe Lake Kanieri as a ‘paradise for holiday makers.” With the through train from Christchurch to Hokitika and a good level road leading to the lake it will easily be possible to make the trip one day, and, if necessary return to Christchurch the next.

While at the lake members of the party ascended Mount Tulma and obtained a magnificent view of the West Coast for hundreds of miles'. They also visited the more accessible beauty spots around the lake such as the Dorothy Falls and the many delightful coves where the wonderful native bush comes down to the edge of clear waters which arc ideal for boating and bathing. On New Year’s Day about twenty members of the party acceded to the request of the Caledonian Society to give a display of gymnastic work and a concert item at the annual sports carnival. They were entertained by members of the society with Scottish hospitality at its best. It is probable that a tour to the" Franz Josef Glacier will be organised under similar conditions fot next suinmor.