GORGE SCENERY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1926, Page 4

GORGE SCENERY

'CHR ISTCHCRCH, Feb. 13. “I have never seen anything more leuutiful than the Otira Gorge, and I mve been among mountain scenery in nuny parts of the world.” declared Mr folin I’. Babcock, of Victoria, Briish Columbia, cluiinnan of tlie Tntcratioiiiil Fisheries Commission, and an

executive officer of the British Columbia Fisheries Department, to a representative of *‘3 he * Dress” on Saturday night. Mr Babcock. Tvho i.s travelling with Dr C. H. Gilbert, Professor of Zoology at- the Stanford Lniversitv, California, had just arrived in Christchurch from the West Coast, and had motored over the Gorge to Arthur’s Pass, where they caught the Midland Express. ‘‘The mountains-, snow capped as they wen?, made a glorious sight,” he added, “and the rata on the west side of the Pass was magnificent. I was so impressed with it that I am endeavouring to get son'c? rata seed to take hack with me to plant in British Columbia.”

Mr Babcock spoke in glowing terms of the ride along the Waimakariri Gorge and the Canterbury Plains. Speaking of the plains, he said that they consisted as pretty a sight of pastoral land ns it had been his good fortune to see. “I want to take otf my hat to the men who planted all those beautiful trees ami hedges.” he said. “It. is a hit- of the best of Old England.” Mr Babcock was also enthusiastic of the beauties of the Buller (Jorge and river, which lie described as marvellous. good salmon rivers.

Mr Babcock, who is an authority on quiunnt salmon, said that h.? considered that the Buffer river was admirably suited to such fish. It was certainly rough in places, he said, hut this was not a disadvantage, as the salmon were able to climb almost anywhere. He thought that the Grey river would also suit the fish, although it was not quite as good as the Buffer in this respect. “It is a fact.” he added, “that New Zealand is the only country in the world where quinnat salmon have been successfully acclimatised, and the work is wholly due to Mr L. F. Avson, for whose company on our tour of the Dominion. Mr Gilbert and I are verv gratsful,”

The visitors trill subsequently proceed to Ota so and Southland, with Mr Arson, to continue their investigations.