SOUTH WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1926, Page 1

SOUTH WESTLAND.

BISHOP’S VISIT. AN INTERESTING JOURNEY. While on their trip to the West Coast, the Bishop of Christchurch and Mrs West-Watsou visited the whole of ono of the lairgest parishes in the Dominion, that of Ross and South Westland, which extends for about two hundred miles down the coast. The trip was commenced by motor, hut it was found necessary to use a horse and trap for part of the journey and the final stretch was done on horseback. Taking the ear to Otira by rail and motoring to Hokitika on July TO, the bishop held fire services in that district on the day, a Sunday, including a special service at the Maori pa. at Arahura. On fho Monday, the visit to the South Westland pari.fh commenced when the bishop and Airs West-Wat son motored to Ross, where they were met by the Rev. .1. R. Young, vicar of the parish. A start was made immediately for the Waiho Hotel at the Franz Josef, and after ’lunching at Harihari, a stop was made for the night at Watnroa, where a confirmation service was held. The party arrived at the Waiho Hotel on Tuesday and in the afternoon a short visit to the Franz Josef glacier was made. The Waiho river was very low,, and. Us a result, it was possible to take the motor on to the next stage of the journey. , MOTOR LEFT BEHIND.

The next twenty-three miles were done in the. motor, this covering a very .steep drive to AVeheka and on to Cook’s River, where the ear was returned to Waiho. Then a. trap with two horses was obtained and Knrangarua was reached, where the party stayed the night as the guests of Mrs Seease. A service was held in lhe house and the next day they went on a further ten miles to Bruce Bay. There ten people were confirmed and despite pouring rain, the residents from miles around attended the service. The next night the Paringa hut was reached, the party having partaken of lunch at Mahitaki. A distance of tliir-ty-ono miles had been covered on horse back, the trap having been left at. Bruce Bay. After travelling through ton miles of dense bush to the Blue River, the night was spent in the lint there. Here, only stale coffee was to he found, but fortunately, the party v<as well provided with provisions, the settlers luiving given them provisions of all kinds.

The next stretch of the journey was ono of the most enjoyable, the party making al climb of five miles to a terraced road running along the spurs, which reached 2000 feet above. sea levcll. For eight miles, they rode along this narrow truck, obtaining glimpses of the snowy pcliks on one side and the sea on the other. On tliis portion of fho journey, All’s AVest-AVatson tried to count the number of streams and creeks crossed, but

when slie had arrived at 200, she tired of counting. They passed the Iron Hut and went oil to tho hut at Copper Creek. A roadman met them and went ahead to ensure that the road was cklitr of fallen trees. HA AST RIVER CROSSED. The next day was Sunday and the party crossed tho Haast River, which was in a fordable condition, arriving at Okuru, the. farthest south settlement on the AVest Coast, in the afternoon. Thus a journey of over 200 miles was covered in la week. Tho stay at Okuru was confined to two days. The journeyi was made all the. way through hush and for, many miles the road was merely a stony track.

His Lordship said that the country had revealed to him the enormous difficulty of getting anyone away who was sick. In the hush, he saw the remains of a stretcher on which Mr Cowan was carried seventy miles by thirty men, they taking reliefs. The people over there were anxious do find some sort of a. stretcher that could be carried or wheeled as the nature of the ground required. With the exception of min at nights tlio party wero favoured with fine frosty weather. Hospitality was lavished on them wherever they went. Everyone put whatever was wanted at their disposal, said the bishop. Church of England, Presbyterian or Roman Catholic, it was all the dame.

WONDERFUL VEGETATION. Four times a year this lonely outpost is visited by Mr Young, and often he is held up for days on account of the flooded streams and had weather. In the three years that lie has been there, Mr Young lias never, with the exception of the visit of the bishop, made the trip in fine weather both ways.

The story of the return trip was. told by Mrs West-Watson, who spoke oF the wonderful vegetation that was seen. In the bush they saw pigeons, and could hear the sweet notes of the tui and bcllbird. On the way hack tluv, party slept at Bruce Bay, and then went on to Kara.ngarula, where they stayed with an isolated couple, Sir and Airs Harvey, who have set up an apiary in that district. They hoped to get the car hack to Cook’s River, where it was dispensed with, hut on account of the nature of the streams, it could not be done. They rode on to Weheka, where Air Williams took them on to Waiho.

It was between Harihari and Ross that a collision occurred with a lorry. HOMEWARD BOUND.

At Ross, a day was spoilt while the car was put into running order, and the next day the party arrived at Hokitika, where, in the evening, a confirmation service was held, seenty-four people being confirmed. The next day, Friday, a, start was .nilade for Ofcira, and the car was trucked to Christchurch.

“There are \ two outstanding features,” said Mrs West-Wntson. “The first is the gorgeous scenery, and the second is the extraordinary hospitality of the people. The. huts are left open for ‘all travellers, and the telephone is of great use. as each settlor lets the next one know who is coming.”