STALKING IN SOUTH WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1928, Page 2

STALKING IN SOUTH WESTLAND

Advice received from the deer stalking (amp, Landsborough, South Westland. goes to show that the season has opened auspiciously. There are some twenty-live stalkers "in ” this year, and are accompanied by over twenty guides and packers and camp attendants.

When writing on the 21st inst.. it was stated the stags were beginning to roar and everything pointed to a very successful season for South Westland. The stalkers were experiencing the best weather conditions on record, and the conditions generally are described as “ simply gorgeous.” The country was looking well .and owing to tne fine summer there was a great increase in the native pigeons and paradise ducks.

'Hie oversea visitors, including Mr Godfrey Williams, of Wales ( who is revisting the region) and Colonel and Mrs Shutt, of England (relatives of Lord Helper, who was in the Haast a season ago) are simply charmed with the country.

Complaint is made, however, ol the state of the Haast track, particularly on the Westland side. Ihe state ol the track on the Otago side is a credit to the authorities—a splendid job has been made—hut the Westland side is sadly in need of attention. A horse paddock is required at the Burke hut. The hut itself needs re-building and a Letter site should he selected. The Clarke hut is too far away to l>e used by the stalkers and something should he done about the Burke hut and paddock. The stalkers are spending hundreds of pounds on the trip “in.” and as some from overseas are shooting, something should be done to the track, work asked for twelve months ago—after last season.

fit is understood the expenditure of a vote of £37(5 has been authorised to the Public Works office at Greymouth for expenditure on Haast Pass track, including the Burke hut and paddock. —Ed. “G.”]