THE WEST COAST TRIP.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1923, Page 2

THE WEST COAST TRIP.

CHRISTCHURCH TO THE FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER. (Lyttelton Times). Dr E. Teiehelinami. of Hokitika, who represents the Westland brati"h of the Canterbury Automobile Association and who is visiting Christchurch, reports that the motor trip from there to V/aiho Gorge and Franz Josef Glacier makes one of the finest tours, in the Dominion. He states that the public would lie surprised to know how many hundreds of cars make the trip during the year especially in the .summer months, The road from Christchurch to the Rea ley is described as first-class, tin only possible difficulties being several crossings of the Kowai River, which sometimes is high. At the Bcalcv, horses usually are needed to pull cars through the Waimakariri. loose gravel often giving (rouble, even when the depth of water is not very great. Horses may lie obtained at the Beafi'v Hotel, which is connected by private telephone with lloglimd's store, Arthur’s Pass, to which telegrams may be addressed for information as to the state of the river.

A short piece of road between the Waimakariri River and Arthur’s Pass railway station al present is very rough and urgently needs attention. 'I be small water-courses make travelling mi that, section very How. Ibe Otira (U rge Road is particularly good at present. The zig-zag that drolls steeply Iron! the saddle has a much improved surface. . From Otira to Hokitika the road is very good, except about eight miles between Jackson’s and the Taipo. which recently has been cut up by heavy motor lorries. A section between Ross and Ferguson's, which was damaged by timber lorries is in much belter order, and is improving all the time. As nil the main rivers as lav south as the Waitangi have been bridged there are no uh-Lules to motor traffic until that river is reached. It •dwavs has been troublesome to travellers.' hut a bridge now is being built ever it ami will be ready before the .summer. AH-anwhilc arrangements have been made witli the contractor lor toe bridge to help cars over, if help i> necessary. . , From the Waitangi to Okarilo horns skirling Lake Wahupo. the road is good and offers no obstacles. M'Donncll s Creek usiiallv gives no trouble to motorist-. hut occa-ioually gets into flood for a short term. The Tnlaro River, the last stream before the A.adm Gorge is reached, is spanned by a substantial bridge.