THE SOUTHERN LAKES TRIP.

Shannon News, 31 January 1922, Page 3

THE SOUTHERN LAKES TRIP.

LEVIN CITIZENS ON TOUR.

On January 6, Mr and Mrs T. F. Gibson, iOrinerly , [residents at Shannon, accompanied by their cousins, Mr and Mrs Chapman, ol Cambridge, England, lel’t on a trip to tiie Southern Cold Lakes, where they spent a very pleasant time. Mr and Mrs Gibson returned home on Mon-

day evening, but the English visitors were so much impressed with the lakes that they decided to extend their stay till next week.

Giving some impressions of the trip to a News representative, Mr Ciibson said the party went straight through to Dunedin after landing at Lyttelton. The country from Christchurch to Tiinaru was very parched up, the land, especially about Ashburton, being of a light character. From Tiinaru southward the' whole scene changed, there being nice crops and green grass everywhere, and these conditions continued, more or less, to the Otago capital. The visitors arrived in Dunedin at the commencement of the big bowling tournament, but the weather was so bad that 'he players were not even allowed on the greens to practise. However, there was an improvement later, and the play was able to go on. Four days were spent in Dunedin viewing the many points of interest. IN SOUTHLAND. The next stop was at Invercargill. This town alwavs has an interest lor the visitor on account of its wide streets, which are two chains from window to window. Naturally Mr Gibson was interested in how business was progressing, but inquiry showed that things were anything but bright. Business men were “in the blues’’ with a vengeance, and as a matter of fact, trade seemed to be a good deal slower than is ruling in the North Island, and yet there are growlers up here. Next day the party went on to the Bluff,, and Mr Gibson and Mr Chapman essayed the assent of Bluff Hill, on which the signal station is situated, and from which vantage point a fine view is obtained of the western sweep of the coastline, as well as Stewart Island beyond Foveaux Straits. The thick, foggy weather, however, prevented /f good view of the Island, but the air was bracing and the trip well worth while. The signal station is in charge of Mr and Mrs Berridge, who are well known for their genial hospitality. The only unpleasant incident of the trip occur red next morning. When Mr Gibson went to p|ay his hotel bill in Inver cargill he discovered his wallet, containing railway-tickets and cash, was missing, and going over the events -x the previous day thought he might have dropped it on the down trip from the Biuil liagstatioii, where he earned his coat over his arm. A hurried trip to the Bluff and a telephone message to the tlagstalf brought the welcome message iliat Mrs Berridge, who passed the travellers the previous day, had found the waliei, and it was soon handed over sale and sound. THE LAKEB. The party then passed through Southland to Lake Waivatipu to Quensiown, and laier went on to Glenoreny and Paradise, at the beau ol the lane. These latter places were ideal, and it was regretted that there was not more time to properly view the many line sights. Part of tin: journey is made by coach through red birch loresis, winch are very hue indeed. With Queenstown as a base, tiie visitors went out to Arrowtown, a typical old mining centre. The trip by coacli includes the drive over the Skipper’s Road, one ol the most thrilling experiences the party had ever come in contact with. Part of the road is cut out of the lace ol soiio cliftic, which in places is 1400 feet to the river below, and the road so narrow that only two horses can be driven abreast on it. And yet during the years that this road lias been open, not one accident has occurred. Tiie present driver has been 17 years on this one road. The record of the Skippers’ coachmen is surely unieque, and a tribute to the men who handle the ribbons in these places oi danger. The splendid teams ol coach horses were greatly admired. Arrowtown was found to be quite a busy little place, and it was apparent that ihe days of the digger are not yet over, for several sluicing dams were observed at work, with tiie jets from the nozzles boring into the laces to win the wash-dirt —and gold dust—from the lower levels. A very plea-’ sant few hours were spent, not for- 1 getting a delightful afternoon tea at a j local hotel. ;

Queenstown, in the travellers’ opinion, was disappointing, and can in no way be compared with Rotorua as a tourist resort. The town itself is very dead, and did not seem to possess many live wires. There was not an up-to-date tea kiosk or picture theatre in the place, and the people did not seem to go out of the way to cater for visitors. And then the charge for a game of bowls at the Government green was unnecessarily

severe. A game cost 1/6 each player, with sixpence extra for shoes. Mr. Gibson and Mr Chapman had two games at a cost of 8/. There is no doubt the scenic assets of Queenstown are good, but the provision made for visitors is hardly what it should he. Nevertheless, the trip was very much enjoyed, and it would have been even more so had time permitted the return journey being made through Otago Central to Dunedin.