LAKE KANIERI

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1933, Page 3

LAKE KANIERI

(Contributed). Quite a feature of the varied scenery of Westland, South Island, is tne mmiu ol lakes rcacniiig down the Coast. Inc lakes include Kanieri, near Hokitika; Alamnapua, off the ltoss railway line, I luntlic, Wabapo and Mapourika } rescued by the Gi;eat isouth road; Alalheson, a pleasant walk from AV click a; and Baiinga, reached by horseback. All these lakes are bush-clad, with snowcovered peaks of the Alps reflecting in their wateis, and each lias some speci-l charm of its own. Space docs not suffice to refer in detail to ail, hut some attention may lie given to Lake Kaaieri, eleven miles from Hokitika, the capital of Westland Province. Lake Kanieri is reached by a good road which is a declared secondary highway. The road passes through the township of Kanieri, one ol the earliest mining centres of the district, and where gold is being recovered still, though not on the scale ol the early days. Leaving the agricultural settlement of Kokatahi .on the. right, the lake road enters the bush country, anci continues on to Kanieri Forks, another of the early milling, fields . At the Forks is centered the hydro-electric wqrks of the • Kanieri Electric Ltd., which develops}, light and power. The power is used to,.drive the -Rimu Flat dredge,. some ton, miles away, where week by week good gold returns are won. Light is supplied the dredge for night work, and also the town of Hokitik, where the streets are well lit , nightly from sundown to sunrise. It ! is interesting, to, record that .the water power to work the hydro plants (for there are two) is derived from Lake Kanieri,about five miles distant from the Forks. One hydro plant is worked from a large water race, fed from the Luke, and the other plant from water | picked up from the Kanieri river which takes the overflow -of the Lake. Ample water is derived from these two , sources to give adequate light-' anci l power for the industrial purposes required. After leaving .the Forks,, the traveller enters the hush-road proper, when e fine views are obtainable at intervals j of the Kanieri river. The road is a sylvan scene throughout, the native hush being set off by a wealth of treefern which fringes the roadway and makes a stately avenue. All the shades | of green bring rest to the eyes, and make the view the more pleasant. The l-nad winds in easy grades pleasantly through the forest, till suddenly the e is the noise of rushing waters, and-the lake is in sight. The sound is from the newly-born , river taking its rise from the lake overflow, and so the arrival at- the hd-eside ; s heralded.

The view of Lake Kanieri is an impressive one. The road arrives at fhe northern end of the lake, and reveals a great sheet of usually plac'd water, five miles long and one mile and a half wide. Lake' Kamei'i,has an impressive setting. If . is enfolded bv high bills on both sides. To the -right is-.is Coni al Hill, 2637 feet, and to the le t Al> T>«li"a. 3.688 feet. The latte,- is rljipliable by a-i easy track, and from the summit there opens a wonderfd panorama of the Coast, with the Southern Alps as the background. Lake

Kanieri is 430 feet above sea level, which explains its value as a power supply. Tt. has .deep waters, . mainly averaging from 400 to 600 feet. In this connection it ..pi,av he mentioned the. lake waters also,-afford the water supply for the town of Hokitika. Lake Kanieri as p scenic gem is nrohahLwithout rival on the Coast. The high hills towering on both sides are hush clad,;, and at the, far end, there is the bar-kino of the Southern Alps, always snow-clod. Visitors are impressed with the sinenla.r beauty of the setting of the lake.which reflects the hills., mountains and clouds in pleasing duplicated effect. There are some pretty points about the lakeside. Sunny Right is a wellnamed bathing rendezvous with an ideal bench ; Han’s Islands, two wooded islets, shelter a. pleasant, cove in the calm of which the reflections of the bush and fern and flax at-e nerfect.

Dorothy Falls off a shoulder of Mt. Tuhua feed a creek which flows into the lake. Tt is a delightful bush retreat and may be reached by motor, launch or motor cap covering a three-mile trip. The car road .affords, pleasing outlooks on the lake at points, and also penetrates bush country where stately fern trees abound and. skirt the roadway. .Lake Kanieri is an ideal picnic resort, and at holiday, time, motor-boat racing is a regular attraction. Camping parties are frequent visitors, ana in tent or batch have a pleasant holiday break, climbing, walking and swimming. There is a. good deal of bird-life about the lake ,which being a scenic reserve, is an sanctuary. The birds are pleasant companions in the bush walks, their bell-like notes breaking the silence with pleasing interludes. Deer stray into the open country at the head of the lake at times, and sportsmen make excursions into that quarter in search of venison. Trolling for quinnat salmon in season is ap interesting pastime, also. Lake Kanieri can well be claimed, to be one of the outstanding, beauty spots of t-lio Dominion, and West Coasters are proud naturally of this possession. None can visit Lake Kanieri and be disappointed with the trip. The road di;ive is most pleasant and the view on arriving at the destination is entrancing. Lake Kanieri-for your, next holiday!