MR BACKHAUS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1930, Page 2

MR BACKHAUS

TRIP TO FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

RETURN TO NORTH ISLAND

After a brief visit to the Franz Joseph Glacier, which delighted them both, Air Wilhelm. Backhaus and Airs Backhaus have gone north.

So anxious'was Air Backhaus to visit the glacier, of which he had often heard in Vienna, that lie faced the discomforts of two days’ ’ rapid travelling for a single day at Waiho Gorge. Leaving Christchurch on Sunday morning, they were driven by car the whole way to AVaiho, where they arrived late in the evening. The return journey, on Tuesday, was made partly by car and partly by train. They had their reward, however, on Monday, when, with Guide Peter Oraham, they were able to spend one and n half hours on the glacier in glorious weather.

GLACIER SCENERY UNIQUE

“We had everything we could have, except the rata in bloom and a frosty morning,” All' Backhaus told a reporter of the Press. "The day was beautiful, and we thought the glacier and the scenery about it quite unique. In the evening sunset the peaks were shimmering with red gold, and the stars and moon were brilliant at night.” The ice on the glacier was beautifully clear. Both he and Airs Backhaus were amazed to see trees and grass growing right to the foot of the glacier, and to hear birds singing even when they were on the ice. They walked hack by way of the Callerv Gorge. On Tuesday morning they left for Hokitika in the early frost, and were able to see some remarkable views of the Southern Alps in the early sunlight. 7