SOUTH ISLAND SCENERY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1929, Page 8

SOUTH ISLAND SCENERY

A VISJTOICiS IMJMMSSSIONS.• Cl I RiISTCTII'HCH, Feb. 11. A visitor from England aL present in Christchurch is Miss. M. Winifred (iuy, who is on a two years’ led urine, tour of (In* world. During the last few weeks Miss Guy has been on a trip round Canterbury, .Marlborough and Westland, and she speaks in glowing terms of the scenic and health attractions of the South Island. “The drive to Ha inner Springs,” through wild, bleak country." said Miss Guv, “made me feel that I was not going to like the resort. On arriving there, however, the beauty and rest fill ness of the place quickly dispelled my fears.” Miss Guy said that, (he Queen Alary Hospital at Haiiiner was the most beautiful one that site had ever soon. The people at the iliotel were like a big, happy family, and she enjoyed some golfing ono walking. Hanmer struck her as a place that ought not to bo missed. At Pieton she was taken out fishing on the wonderful Marlborough Sounds. Sho thoroughly enjoyed her first experience, Imt was afraid that- in her excitement she scared ofl Hie fish, for the rest of the party.

Miss Guy then went on to Nelson, where the secretary of the Progress League arranged for her a two days trip round the fruit farming districts. “I was very much impressed with the natural beauty of the- country. ’ she continued. “Imt T do not think that Nelson people are alive to the possibilities of their place to tourists ano holiday-makers. Leaving Nelson. "Miss Guy motored to Westport. She spoke enthusiastically about the scenery on tho way, mentioning in particular (he wonderful panoramic view of mountain tops, snow scenes and hush, obtainable just after leaving Nelson. She said that she saw elephants, lions and tigers in the Duller Gorge, hut went on to explain that they belonged to .. travelling circus.

From Hokitika to the Franz .Josef Glacier the scenery was superb, the car passing through seventy-live mileof a veritable fairyland of bush. Tre 1 ' ferns twelve to sixteen feet high, moss covered hanks, and peeps of rushing torrents made the journey one long to be remembered.

“The glaciers have come to he • liemeeting ground of the world,” said Aliss Guy. “At the hotel I met numbers of tourists and all seemed delighted.” She noticed, however, that most people rushed from place to place, while she stopped a fortnight al Franz Josef and even then did imt exhaust the scenic attractions. Tourists, she said, were loud in then praise of the Government Tourist Bureau for efficiency in mapping out Itineraries. Aliss Guy spent two daym the ice. and visited the Defiance Hut. .She remarked that it felt just (ike being on top of the world. She had been told about the dangerous roads on the AVost Coast, aid at first felt a little uneasy, but the drivers were so careful, efficient, ami considerate that she soon lost the feeling of nervousness. She did not think, however, that inexperienced motorists should undertake trips to the Bnller or to the Fox Glacier. Aliss Guy considered that the roads on the AVost Coast, were very much better than those on the cast side of the Island. “I do think that the climate in the South Island is most invigorating,” she said. “Since T have been here have put on weight—a most unusual thing for me. When I get to England 1 will most certainly tell thin people to come to the South Island of New Zealand.”