A TRIP TO LAKE DONNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 29 January 1908, Page 88

A TRIP TO LAKE DONNE.

Bt One op the Pabtt.

After a very pleasant walking tour ever ihe M'Kinnon Pass to Milford Sound we landed at Glade House on our way home, to find that we had a day and a-half to wait for connection, with the steamer which was to take us down Lake Te Anau. It was proposed that instead of climbing Skelmorlie we should go off the beaten track and try to reach Lake Donne, which lies in a gully at the back of Glade House, about four miles distant as the crow flies. We soon made up a party of three, and left the hostel immediately after breakfast, walking about two miles down the track towards Pompolona, and we were there met by Mr Smith (chief guide), who rowed us across the river, and set us off by giving us instructions as to the best way of peaching the lake. He informed j ua that .although the lake was discovered, by a party of three, including Mr Ross (guide) over eight years ago it had not been - vjs.ited since. Leaving the Clinton River at its junction \ with the Nealeburn, we struck inland, ! arid, after an hour's walking over extremely rough country, we again" struck the Nealeburn, and then decided to follow '- up the stTeam to its source, keeping close i to the banks. Walking close to tlie banks 1 seemed to be easier going, for, although it I was a case of jumping from one rock to ' another (sometimes slipping "from the rock to be immersed in the water) and walking over dried-up river beds, it was quicker travelling than before ; but we ctould only go a few yards before we had again to cut through the bush to get round an outlying cliff or rock. Walking up one river bed we came across rocks which must have -weighed five or six tons ; some being bare, and perhaps one lying alongside of it covered with moss 2ft deep from top to bottom. After getting out of the river bed we were unfortunate enough to come across a large swamp; but our leader was kind enough to inform us, after going over knee deep into it, that it would be advisable to retrace our steps and get to the riv«r bed once more. After reaching secure ground we thought -we were entitled to a. rest, ana 'decided to have our lunch, which we had .brought in out pockets. Lunch finished, we started once more," refreshed, but not very sanguine of reaching tlie lake, as we had to bft back at our starting place before dark. After another half-Jiour's walk we at _last" reached the 'lake. I knew it was the lake because I fell into it by putting my foot through a rotten log.- I put a cross on that log to warn, other unwary travellers.- Our photographer * then got . to business, andi •.took'the first views ever taken of the lake. H© that the two other members of the p&rty should be inducted in the view. Our objection', to this was that we would "have to -stwnd knee-deep in the j waiter.^ to get into focus.- However, we had to agree with him. There vratt not the slightest doubt in our minds about the beauty of the scene. Turn which way we liked there -was a j variety which is seldom seen in such «• j small lake. (It's measurements, are, j roughly speaking," about three miles by one mile). Its shores wore heavily timbered, "the forest rising from the water's edge with" some magnificent black pines here and there, some with a 10' to 15 feet circumference — a size which is seldom > seen round Milford Sound. Rising at the , back of this are some heavily snowclad mountains, of which the visitor never tires; but, on the contrary, is ever fascinated by. their grandeur, and beauty. Meanwhile, as we feast our eyes on the scene, the P. P.O. fiend has got to work, and taken his views of the lake and its surroundings in all their splendour. Perhaps next year the Government may decide to cut a track to the lake. This should not, be difficult work, as the main oostruction is moss, which runs very .deep. Judging from the Skelmorlie track it could be done in about four weeks with a .gang of about four men. Thia would greatly add to the attractions in the vicinity of Glade House. Although it is the ' most comfortable hostel in the -w^ole , district, yetr the addition of an attraction - like LaJte Donne would be doubly, appreciated -by - its patrons. We put in a delightful hour and a-half at -the lake, and then started for home. The 6Cfinic attractions had taken up more time than we had allowed ior, co we had to put on a spurt to get back to the Clinton River before darkness set in. We were fortunate in not breaking our necks coming down, the hill, as we were rather overdoing the speed limit. We made a beeline for Mount M'Kenzie, -which lay on the other sMe oi the valley, and by doing so cut off many bends in the river. The bush here was in places almost impassable, the supplejack being our worst foe, but, difficulties notwithstanding, even the most pessimistic person oould not fail j to be attracted by the lovely bush, with I bright bunches of blooming mistletoe and ! rata in profusion on either side of our j path. j At last we reached the Clinton River! at exactly- the same spot from where we started, and were fortunate enough to get the boat across, while on its way up the river for provisions. Our walk up to the lake occupied four iours -and a-half, but coming down we only took two hours and a-half from the junction of the Clinton River and the Nealeburn to return.' * Then another two-mile walk to Glade V v House, and we were .once, more able to say, as we had said every night during .the last twelve days, that we had thoroughly enjoyed the day? in fact, I think it was the most enjoyable day we spent in a. fortnight's holiday tour Tound the Milford Sound and Te Anau district.

Saidl Professor Osier, at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School. "I should really liko to see a hospital started: witn medical (tfute l6 oply aa nurses. The students \)]HJsxA get invaluable training that way."