The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1928. DISCOVERING WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1928. DISCOVERING WESTLAND

When the Progress League lately considered matters affecting the development of tourist traffic in Westland, one of the subjects set down as of essential import in the matter of opening up the country, was the opening of the< Styx route via Browning’s Pass to Canterbury, (1) for walking parties traversing territory affording the' greatest show of mountain flora in the district, with the ultimate object (2)

of carrying road access from Upper Kokatabi to the dividing range. The importance of opening this route is emphasised in an unsolicited way by an Australian visitor who has just traversed the Browning Pass route from the east to the west, and who, in the Christchurch “Press” this week, wrote most appreciatively of the tour. Brownings Pass route is not a new discov-

ery. It was one of the earliest routes to the West Coast from the earliest known times. The Maoris seeking the precious greenstone made their journeys from Canterbury by way of the Pass, though in the main most of the natives found their way to the Coast by the Arahura river, rather than by the Styx river, which is a tributary of the Kokatahi river, and that in turn is a tributary of the Hokitika river. There is a good deal of Maori traditional history about the use of the route, so it was not surprising that the early surveyors prolved the country also. The Pass itself is named after the gentle-

man who was almost, if not actually, the first Chief Surveyor of Westland, and who was a well-known explorer of the back country. Unfortunately when it came to a track, the Arahura route to the Coast was selected in preference to the Styx route, and so the great beauty of the country to he traversed, which .struck the Australian visitor was lost to the general traffic. However, in later days the Styx route became better known, and actually there is a track now traversing this remarkably fine valley into the hack ranges. The route is one which if if

juugi-n. ioe route is one wmen n it had been better known when prospecting for an east and west railway route was in hand, would have engaged special attention, the grades being considerably easier than the Otira route, while the length of tunnel to pierce the Southern Alps would, likewise, have l>een shorter. The railway line l>v that route would have crossed Canterbury way way of the Rnkain Valley instead of the Waimaknriri, and would have tapped the East Coast in a more central position. But that is another story never to he filled in in detail. It is very opportune just when a stir is being made about the neglect of ’Westland in regard to tourist matters, to

have ready confirmation from an outside visitor as to the value and virtues of the Styx as a scenic route. It appears to 1)0 all that is claimed for it in scenic grandeur, heightened as it is by a wealth of mountain flora which is apprised so greatly by recent visitors. We owe a good deal to recent visitors for the rediscovery, ns it were, of Westland. Mr Aniery, by his tramp into Westland, and his eulogies of our

scenic wealth, turned the lime-light full on to the district, and his praise will no douht echo far abroad and bring evntunlly many visitors from distant lands to see the glories of South Westland, and' th l e wonderful mountain scenery. The botanist from the Kew gardens who was so struck by the mountain flora lie saw about Otlra Gorge in-tho late season, has turned

attention also to a fresh phase oi the attractions of Westland. We are informed 011 reliable authority that the flora tucked way in the Styx Valley eclipses that of the Otira Gorge in variety, and is one of the special charms of the route. This view is fully confirmed by the modest Australian visitor who is anonymous, hut who was so charged by what be saw, that lie was moved to write to the public press on the subject His discovery of something so intriguing within easy reach of Hokitika is a reminder that our assets in scenic wealth are far from being revealed at their true worth. The proposal to reach the head of Lake Kanieri with a road, and then to link up with a road from the Upper Kokatahi, following the Stvx route should bo part only of a general scheme of development, the ultimate object of which should he to traverse the Styx Valley itself to the Divide, and so give the fullest and "freest access into one of the outstanding beauty spots of New Zealand at present all too little known. The praise given to the locality by an unknown visitor should incite the fullest enthusiasm in the direction here outlined.