MAKARORA ROAD

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1931, Page 7

MAKARORA ROAD

EXTENSION ADVOCATED OPENING UP VIRCIN COUNTRY. Reference is made in a review of tourist activities in the annual report of the Otago Expension League to the importance of the new road to Mi.karora. The report states. 'the principal work ifor this year, so far as the policy of increasing transport facilities is concerned, is undoubtedly the cutting of the new lake road from Hawea Flat to Makarora. For many years the beauty of “Dark Hawea” has been to the majority oi our people a sealed hook, only a few venturesome spirits caring to tackle the long hike along the shore. Hut to-day a well-formed and easy graded motor road runs along the shore of the upper lake, and from it enchanting vistas of mountain and lake a;c obtained. Crossing at the historic neck, the road swings on to the hillsK.r looking down on to “Silver Wanaka” and opening another panoramic view, goes nothward nearly to Makarora, the head of the lake. It is the hope of the league that the road will be completed during the present year, and if our prayers are answered, carried further. Just beyond this lakehend village lies the Haast Pass, the easiest of the gateways into the storied west, the land of great for" ests, broad valleys, towering peaks and rushing streams—a virgin country and a veritable El Dorado. It is the unfortunate habit of many of our people to sneer at such works as merely joyriding tracks, but while the iiaust opens up many hitherto unapproaciia.,ie beauty spots, it also opens up a gateway to a great fertile region. E tins road is pushed through it gives tlie omy access lor wheeled vehicles to Llie lands below the Haast River, down to Okuru and beyond, a land where timber is as plentiful as it was in the Gatims 60 years ago, a land of pasture unequalled, whose products would all come through Otago, for it will be many years before the road comes down, from Wstland. If only this road were completed, then the present complaint <jf reaching dead ends would vanish and a round trip of unimagined variety and continued interest would be available. Fancy the charm of taking in your stride Nelson and the Duller, 1 Punakaiki, the (forest road by lanthe Lake to the Franz Josef and the Fox Glaciers, the multiplicity of the rivers on the west, the lakes of Otago, the glories of Mount Cook, and the run j hack north up the east coast. This road promises not only visitors to be charmed, hut sturdy pioneers to come and settle on these virgin laiids, the produce of whose toil will find its way tb DiiUedin markets and-whose needs will mean more and more lucrative business to our merchants and manufacturers,