IN SOUTH WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1932, Page 6

IN SOUTH WESTLAND

IMPROVED TRAVEL FACILITIES,* CHRISTCHURCH, August 18. : Improved roads, and bridges and the bettfer facilities for loading and unloading motor-cell's on the West Coast railway have brought such tourist resorts as the Franz Josef Glacier witlijrr easy reach of the North Canterbury motorist; >,J -

!. The trip from Christchurch to ' the Franz Josef may now be done in comfort in a single day, according tP'the" experience of Mr A. O. Wilkinson; who returned to the City yesterday after a brief holiday visit to the Coast. 7 He was accompanied on this trip by ’the Rev. W. Rower Black, Mr and' Mrs Charles Ogilvie, and Mr W. Gordon baulk The party left Christchurch f ap 10.80 o’clock last Wednesday morning, trucked their car at 'Springfield at 1i.30 a.in., and although the train journey to Otira lasted until 3.45 p.m!—reached Waiho Gorge after" a further run of six hours. The whole including stops for liieals and taking into consideration the delays on a goods train, occupied 12 hours.

“WONDERFUL W T .EATHER.

“Although I have been on the Coast on many occasions,” said Mr Wilkinson yesterday, “I have never before experienced such wonderful weather, and never before seen the peaks so continuously clear. The views of Elie de Beaumont and other notable peaks were magnificent.”

>-• notable- addition to the attractions of "iVaiho as a tourist resort had been the formation of a track to- Alepls Knob, which ; was,now cpmpleted to the sumfnit, said Mr Wilkinson. Although, track was six miles long, the grfide was easy; and although it passed through dense bush it occasionally opened out and gave extensive views of the whole of the glacier,’ of the main divide, and of the wlio-e coastline from the Cook river nortliwards. Mr Wilkinson said he believed jt would be a valuable addition to the features of the glacier region. SCARCITY OF WATER. * For the past six weeks the Coast ’ had enjoyed absolutely dry weather. Water was scarce; in fact, there was scarcely -enough in a neighbouring river to generate sufficient power for • - Pv:«- ‘ A

the Glacier Hotel. Improvements to the landing ground at Waiho were being continued, and the ground was now quite frequently used. - The party returned to Christchurch at midnjght on Monday, the return journey also occupying only 12 hours.