OKURU NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1929, Page 3

OKURU NOTES

(From a Correspondent;). .Several line drafts of cattle are finding their way north on account of northern hovers while other draffs are expected to leave shortly for Otago via liaast Pass. The first cinematographer to film this district with others oif the staff of the Government Publicity Department are spending some time in the district. A visit to the seal rookery at Cascade' had to he abandoned or.account of time. Jackson’s Bay and the Haast Pass.track besides many fine scenes off the beaten track have been, photographed. including the beautiful Ilapuku Crock. The party are now proceeding to Lake Paringa, Copeland, blot Springs and the Glaciers. It is considered to he the most extensive trip undertaken by the Department. Much fine material has been secured and will undoubtedly, heroine the most effective means of publicity the Coast, especially the less known parts, have received. Deer stalkers are already crossing the Pass to the Haast Valley. A party of five tram'pers recently crossed. Mr ITalborg (North Island) is expected within a week to commence a lengthy stalking holiday in the Upper Okuru Valley and proposes to explore the hitherto unexplored parts of f>' country. Mr Halberg is an experienced sportsman, having (for a number of seasons stalked doer in the Wellington forests and Wapiti -in the Sounds district. It is understood the Matakitake Range will ho stalked this season for the first time. Mr J. Harrison, of Sodilonville, will stalk on the new •block with a base camp at the Boarin" Billy waterfall. Mr G. S. Cooper (Wanganui) who is the accompanying journalist with the Government Publicity Department previously mentioned, describes the Haast Track as the finest scenery it has been his pleasure to view and considers the nmiery beats the Milford track into a “cocked hat.' 1 He goes on to predict an ever increasing flow rrf tourist traffic over this delightful country. Mr Brie James, formerly of Lids district is at present hen in connection with the transport and other arrangements of the Government Publicity Department. Dr Tennant, of Wellington, is a passenger through to Lake "W anaka Mr MacGregor. Dunedin, is making; another tour through Westland proceeding via Haast Pass. • ? OBITUARY. The death of Mr George Magnus Massing, at the ripe age of 93, is reported from Orepuke, Southland. Deceased was for many years schoolmaster at Cardrona, and claims to lie the first white man to step foot in the Makarora Valley in 1800, row uig up Lake Wanaka in a dinghy with a companion. Three years later with another companion he spent ninety days exploring the Haast Pass, and the Haast Valley and tributaries, lie crossed the Pass a lew months before Dr Von Haast and claims second place in the discovery of the Pass, being second to Cameron’s exploration oif the previous year. He further led t.lie rush to the Haast-Okuru Beacli about 1867 when nearly a thousand diggers participated. He retained a vivid memory of those early days and often penned' his trips in narrative form which have appealed in the Otago papers. An endeavour is being made to collect and preserve these records and funds for this purpose have been voluntary given.