SOUTH WESTLAND NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1927, Page 4

SOUTH WESTLAND NOTES

(From a Correspondent). .Mr _M. Sullivan the enterprising proprietor of the new accommodation house at Wehcka now under way, lias a gang of men employed in timber cutting. The pipes are laid for water supply, lighting and power and the site is partially cleared. The site, which has been wisely selected, forms the junction of the present Main South Road and the Fox Glacier Track. The latter will eventually become the main thoroughfare south to the sparsely populated valleys below and to the scenic beauties of the Cold Lakes district. With the completion of this much-nced'ed hostel it is presumed the service car terminus will be extended a further seventeen miles southward, 17 miles, too, of the most beautiful mountain and forest scenery that can l'o equalled anywhere and described by Mr Collins, Secretary to the Department of Internal Affairs, as the most beautiful section of mountain anti bush/ scenery he had ever traversed. The site is only 20 minutes walk by bush track to the magnificent Fox Glacier, a sight equal to the Franz Josef and with a superior panorama of the extensive fertile valley below surrounding the winding and numerous rapid-flowing streams of the combined Cooks and Fox Rivers to the sea coast. Tin's glacier has not received the publicity due to it. perhaps on the account, of its inaccessibility which until recent years was by horseback. There also existed a lack of accommodation. These difficulties are being overcome by the completion of the Waiho bridge and tbe hostel. In the past travellers received little information concerning ( the scenic attractions south of Waiha. It is Imped in the future aceommodn- , tion house proprietors and motor ser- | vice companies -will co-operate effec- ( tivelv in order to place before tourists j the attractions of other adjoining localities. , COPELAND PASS TRAFFIC. Three parties successfully crossed v this grand mountain pass recently, (. while a third failed, said to he on ac- r count of misty weather, but the guides r returned without difficulty. A party of local residents propose to make the trip this week. The little known and v beautiful Copeland hot springs deserve s more publicity than they are receiving, which are easily reached by good horse track from the car terminus. There £ Is an excellent Government house tvitliin n stone throw of the springs,