Beauties of Westland.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1922, Page 1

Beauties of Westland.

LECTURE BY DR TEICHELMANN.

(Lyttelton Times).

A veritable feast of scenery was presented to an overflowing audience at the Chamber of Commerce Hall last (Wednesday)' evening when. Dr Teickel* mann, of Hokitika, delivered a lantern lecture entitled! “A Westland Tour.” The lecture was delivered under the auspices of the Canterbury Progress League and the Y.M.C.A. Walking Club, and sp great was the number who desired admission that after the hall h;;d bpen packed to an uncomfortable extent well over a hundred people were turned away. Dr Teiphelmann’s lecture was given an added interest by ' virtue of the nearness of the time when the Arthur’s Pass tunnel will be completed, thereby bringing most of the scenic beauties he described within easy reach of the people of Canterbury. Air H. Holland presided. Fully 200 lantern slides were exhibited by the lecturer and he adopted the principle of taking his audience from Canterbury, across Arthur’s Pass and down through Hokitika to the numerous scenic beauty spots of Westland. The first views shown were of the limestone regions, near Porter’s Pass, in Canterbury on the old coach road to Otira. Here many weird and wonderful formations were shown, the lecturer stating that it was believed that at one time all the region was undor sea, the shells being of marine origin. The region of the rocks was at present! 3023 feet above sea level. The limestone contained, in the rocks, he added, would doubtless be \ery valuable as artificial manure, if it was more accessible. Views were, then shown of the Cfaigieburu Stream with Mount St Bernard alj the hack. The photography ip oyery case was remarkably clear and gumy of the slides were beautifully oolo,Wed. After showing a number of vieiys of Lake Pearson looking towards the Sugarloaf. the beautiful- flora of the Alpine regions was pictured. Dr Teiobelinnnn stated that Arthur’s Pass was a reservo and the people were forbidden to pick the flowers but lie Was afraid this rule was not observed very • strictly. The glorious bush Iseenery along Jackson’s Road was shown, the magnificent trees on the sides of the road making a wonderful spectacle. Coming to Hrikitika, several slides depicting tlie beautiful sunsets on Hie' Tasman were shown. The mountain scenery from Hokitika was pictured in all its wonderful glory, the lecturer pointing out that the main mountain range wa& at no place on the West Coast distant more than 20 or 25 miles from th e sea, Several interesting pictures of the new Rimu dyecEe. at Hokitika which is dredging about, 200 ounces of gold a week, were given. The next place visited was Lake Kanieri. and the camping places of. the Y.M.C.A. walking partv were indicated. Lake Kanieri', said Dr Teiehelmann was form cd by ice and the northern end was the tenpinal of a glacier. Tbe lake is 050 feet deep, and, the bottom is 250 feet belpw sea level. Leaving Rake Rapier!, tbe lecturer took his audience to Lake Mabinapua, showing many beautfffil views- some of- the scenery of which has since been destroyed. ..He expressed the rvpipiop that tbe West Coast •must always, be the timber reserve, for New Zealand because lipib.er grew there so easily. Rake Tanthe. a small but beautiful, Inke was next shown ami in this region there was much excellent bush. From Lake Mapourilca the audience were given a glimps P of tbe Franz .Tosenh Glacier, and then follcnyed the. Gallery Gorge and the Morions scenerv on the track to tbe glacier. Of the glacier itself many very wonderful views were shown, the lecturer briny careful Id explain each picture to tbe audience. At tbe conclusion of tbe lecture Mr Holland said tbe members of tbe audience were grealtly indebted to Dr Te’ehelmnnn for coming to Christchurch and givinc tbe lecture. Tbe beauties of the West Const- were indescribable and no camera could do justice to them, fie hoped tbe time was not far distant when the railway would be through and everyone in Cbristehur '

would have an opportunity of seeing in reality what had been pictured to them that night. (Applause). A hear tv vote of thanks was accorded Dr Teichelmnnn on the motion of Dr Farr.