GRANDEUR OF THE WEST

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1926, Page 2

GRANDEUR OF THE WEST

1)1! K. TEICII ELM ANN’S ADDRESS

(Dunedin “Star.”,

Again roving that once it is awakened keen interest is shown by the public in New Zealand scenery, crowded houses greeted Dr E. Teichelmnnn’s lectures on Wednesday on the scenery of the West Coast. Westland, the speaker said in the remarks he made prefatory to the exhibition of some remarkable slides, had in the past been looked upon as (lie hind of incessant rain, and impenetrable forest, a land of the great gold mining rush of sixty years ago. All this was changed. Westland was now the land for the timber miller, the cattle and sheep grazer, and was strewn with butter and cheese factories. The apiarist, too, was quickly finding that it was admirable bee country, with the result that more so than many other provinces. Westland was veritably a land “flowing with milk and honey.” “They still get gold and it still rains there,” added the doctor naively. But it was also a land of sunshine. Many would he surprised to hear that the official record of sunshine at Hokitika exceeded that of all other towns in New Zealand where an official record was kept, excepting three of four of the sunniest. The a\ ei age for the last six vears was 2.017.55 hours.

Dealing with the actual tour. Dr Teiehelmann mentioned tlhe various ways of approaching the West Const —by sea via Nelson, from Christchurch bv train, through Hie Otira tunnel, or over the Otira Gorge hv motor. He interested his hearers with descriptions, aided by realistic slides, of the abundant scenery on the route from Arthur’s Pass to Otira and of the _ Glaciers. In other lectures T)r Teiehelmann. than whom there is no greater authority oil the scenery of Westland, will describe other \Ve«l Unnst tourist routes.