BRUCE BAY NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1926, Page 3

BRUCE BAY NOTES.

(From A Correspondent.)

lIRL'CF, IiAV. Alarch 22. .Mr Sum Fiddian is just on his 8!)tli birthday, 'i'liis grand old pioneer who is highly respected by young and old claims to be the oldest resident in South Westland and is still able to discuss the principal topics of tiio day. .Mr Fiddian arrived in West laud during the rush days. He resides with his only relative in the colony. Mrs Robert Thompson. Bruce Bay. Rev. Young conducted a. well attonded service at Bruce Bay on the I7th and eonnmmiou service the following morning. The little school room was packed to its utmost. Kesidents are anxious to learn the result of the recent land ballot in conjunction with the block recently opened in the Cook Valley. It is hoped the result will bring a. few more settlers into the district. The Cook district is a large fertile district capable of accommodating several score of settlers beside timber mills, etc. It is situated only seventeen miles south ol the Waiho, and given access by a. good motor road, perhaps one ol the tinest bush roads that could he scon in any port of the Dominion and also gives access to the well-known Fox (lacier. .Mr Collins, Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, describes this road, Waiho to Welieka as the finest scenery he has over seen in any part of the world. Air Collins has travelled over many of the well-known and well advertised tracks in the Dominion and considers the A\ aiho to Otago via Haast Bass to be equal to any including the well-known and beautiful Miltord Track. He also predicts a large and constant tourist traffic in the future. An up-to-date Accommodation House is to he erected soon at. the junction of the main South road and Box Glacier tiack. With the completion of the AVailio Bridge access to this delightful country can he made at all times of the year. The White Star Alotor Service have a pioneer ear stationed on the south side of the river for the benefit ol the travelling public. Air Walter Scott is landing a boiler for sawmilling purposes. Besides cutting for the local needs he intends to cut u considerable amount <>l heart totara required for extensive alterations and additions to the Accommodation House which is preparing tor the increase of tourist traffic upon tile completion of the Waiho bridge. I hi.-, house is well and conveniently situated for tourists and others travelling from Otago via Haast Pass and from Canterbury (Hermitage 1 via Copeland I ass. The latter Pass is another delightful trip that tourists should never miss, the principal attraction being the lint springs alongside the commodious Go\Cl to he regretted that- nothing has been done to complete the short piece of reading required to complete the Bruce Bay head. road. ,1* « miles of ■formation is required and it would not he a costly job. being already clear of scrub and forest and oiil> uqnires to be <ut out of the coiisoidated sand banks. Dragging loads <d S‘>ods. etc from tbc landing (Bruce But) icoui'res good horses. Often Lour are icquires to be cut out of the consolidate baif Attention is also reqin the south bank of the Parniga Bite, t here a recent flood has cut throng H e existing track, necessitating ravelhers crossing a swampy paddock am | removing slip-rails.