GLACIER TRIP

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1930, Page 5

GLACIER TRIP

PARTY FROM OTAGO

WARM PRAISE FOR SCENERY

AND STOCK

CHRISTCHURCH, July 2

The 40 Otago farmers and their womenfolk, who returned to the City last evening after a trip to the Fox and Fran/. Josef Glaciers, were as full of praise for the scenic beauties of South Westland as the.party from Christchurch which preceded them . some weeks ago. They agreed that this tour is one of the finest over so short a period in the Dominion, and should be more widely exploited among the public. The Railway Department, it is understood, is organising further trips to South Westland, the first of which ■may be made in about two months’ time.

The party, which was in charge of Mr D. S. Broughton, Railway Commercial Agent' at Dunedin, arrived in Christchurch on June 24 and travelled to Hokitika the following day. On June 26th, during the trip by car from Hokitika to Waiho, the tourists met '" th their only rain on the whole trip. Comfortably settled at the Glacier Hotel, Waiho, ’they made the next day a trip to the Franz Josf Glacier with Guide Peter Graham arid others of his staff. On Friday last, half the party went on ail excursion to Lake Mapour- , 'ka while the others, keen alpinists, returned to the glaieer and were able to climb to Defiance Hut, which they made their base for ski-ing expeditions. This was one of the most beautiful days of the tour; the heat at Lake Mapourika was intense, and the surrounding bush and mountain scenery were perfectly reflected in its waters. On Friday evening the settlers and farmers of the Waiho Yallev gave a social and dance in honour of the visitors, for whom Mr A. Craig returned warm thanks.

WESTLAND CATTLE ADMIRED. On Saturday morning the whole party walked in the company of both Graham brothers to Carnarvon’s Knob from where they had an unrivalled view of the coast and of Okarito Harbour. In the afternoon an inspection was made of the farm of Mr J. Gibbs. His heavy Hereford cattle and stud sheep were greatly admired, the Herefords being declared the most advanced 23-year-old cattle the farmers had seen. On Sunday morning the party left by car for Weheka, arriving at the Hostel there at 10.30 o’clock. Most went immediately to' the glacier, taking their lunch and spending the day on the ice in warm sunshine. Landowners in the valley, Mr Williams and Mr Sullivan, took others on an inspection of stock and grazing land. They motored finally to the Cook River, where they, had ' a magnificent view of the sunset on Mount Cook, Mount Tasman, and the other peaks of the range. During the return trip from Weheka . to Hokitika on Monday they were entertained at morning tea at the Waiho Hoste} by the Graham brothers.

Aftir spending the night at Hokitika, the tourists came on to Christchurch yesterday by the express. They will return to Dunedin to-day. At Otlra they met to make a presentation -to Mr Broughton as their appreciation of his services during ’ the tour. The weather throughout was ideal, and all were impressed with the mountain and bush scenery of the district they visited, particularly in the 17 miles between Waiho and Weheka. The quality of land at Hari Hari ,Watoroa, Waiho and Weheka was also widely admired. The arrangements and accommodation were in every case they said. WARM HOSPITALITY. The opinions of the party generally on the tour were put bv Mr W. H. Craigie. Most of them had never been to the West Coast before, he -said. They found the weather ideal and the scenery magnificent. They praised warmly the hospitality of the Graham brothers at Waiho and of the Sullivan brothers at Weheka. The motor trips were made doubly interesting by the service drivers, who were both skilled and informative. At Weheka and Waiho they saw cattle and sheep of which they were envious, and much fine grazing land. In the Weheka Valley there were hoggets big enough to pass off as four-tooth . There, too, they were shown some excellent samples of wool. “I hope more of these trips are arranged by the Department,” said Mr Craigie. “ I don’t think that scenic ally there is a better trip in the country. We were exceptionally well treated throughout, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.”