THROUGH THE HAAST PASS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1929, Page 3

THROUGH THE HAAST PASS

LECTURE BY MR ERIC .JAMES

(Otago Daily Times.)

Comparatively little is known by tho average person about the glorious scenic wonderland that lies chiougii the Haast Pass, a land of beauty and grandeur which will be opened up to tourist traffic in trie very near iuiure on the completion of the Haast Pass road, which will give communication to Westland through the Lakes distiict of central Otago. Those who attended tho # lantern lecture given in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last Tuesday evening by Mr Eric James, of Lake Wanalca, however, will now have* a very vivid lu’ud picture .of tli© great country which is at last likely, to be opened up. The lecture was given under the auspices of tho Otago Expansion League, Mr W. F. Simpson assisting the lecturer by operating the lantern. The pictures flashed upon the screen were eloquent enough in themselves, but Mr James’s thorough knowledge and complete familiarity with the regions under discussion made them uoublv interesting, since ho explained every scene in detail. Most of the pictures shown were selections from the latest budget of publicity views secured by the Government Publicity Department, and as specimens of the photographer’s art they were well nigh perfect. The lecturer dealt first with the great importance of the tlreugu highway, work on which was now being pushed on as fast as possible bv the Public Works Department. This was a work that had long been necessary, and the Expansion League had consistently urged its completion on the grounds that it would be an asset to Otago and to the whole of New Zealand, since it would open up for ordinary tourist traffic one of the finest scenic regions in the Dominion. Most of the attractions Illustrated are to Tie found right on the lino of route of the new road, and the audience spent a. very pleasing hour, revelling in the picture presentations of virgin forest, beautiful lakes and rivers, mountain grandeur, and the wonders of the great glaciers. The great Lakes district, the I-’ox Glacier, and Copeland Pass track, and, in fact, practically the whole of Western Otago, were depicted in a manner that should move many of last night’s audience to make the trip through the pass on their next, holiday.

Air J ames intends delivering a similar lecture in the Returned Sokluws’ Association’s club rooms to which the public is invited.