WANAKA NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1928, Page 6

WANAKA NOTES

(From a Correspondent). TOURIST AND PROGRESS matters. During a debate in the House on tlie “Tourist and Health Resorts,” Mr J. Horn ALP., seized the opportunity to advance the claims of Hawea-Wanaka during which special mention was made of the Haast Pass Track. Mr Horn thanked the Department for tiro votes for the Alt. Aspiring Road. He hoped it would be- possible next year to get within fifteen miles by car of Alt.* Aspiring and the beautiful ice oaves. Last year’s climbing party, who succeeded in climbing the peak failed to find words to express the .magnificent beauty of the mountains, snowfie-lds and glaciers in the upper reaches of the Arawafca river. Air Horn continues: Tlie lion, member for Westland .mentioned one of the finest road trips in New Zealand —that from Haast to Alakaroa. it is now a rough pack track, lint its roughness makes it imeujoyable. I suggest that t«o roadmen be put on that road—one at each end —in the summer months, just to surface it. , By this, means the road would in a couple of years be very much improved, and would benefit not only tourists, 'but also the settlers on the W.est ! Coast, who- are very, persevering in the rearing of cattle, and have only this means of getting their beasts out, as it is the only saddle that can be crossed. It was the dream of the late Rt. ' Hon Mr S-eddon that Westland anti ’Otago should be linked up by mean's of g road over the Haast Pass, and I believe that in a few years that dreaiii will he realized. In the meantime 1 we can keep the road open by. spending a few hundreds on it now and again The James’ Tourist Company LtdV 11 are now supplying guides and horses for tourists who- care to travel from the Alakaroa wharf to the hoarding house, and right through to the Land shorn ugh River and the mouth ol the- Haast River, and thence on to 'Hokitika.. I think that firm deserves 1.0 be encouraged, because it is doing pioneer work. It is hard work ai d with a little encouragement they will do a lot to open up that vast country, where there is virgin hush, the like of which you seldom sec in New Zetland.

Mr Horn went on to suggest that these tourist attractions should he mentioned more freely in the annual report, which is circulated throughout New Zealand. The dismission end'd by advancing the opinion that movie pictures were the host means ol advertising the scenic at! i actions.

Severe storms have raced for a fortnight, and then* appears little promise of a change in view. Lambing season is in full swing. Mr ■]. Mack ay of Wann.ka Kerry Service is on a visit to Sydney.