SCENIC GRANDEUR

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 375, 5 March 1937, Page 4

SCENIC GRANDEUR

MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Stratford Resident’s Holiday Visit. Each year for nearly a decade Mr and Mrs T. Kirkwood, of Stratford, have visited the Portage, Kenepuru Sound, but yet for them the wonderful scenery of those inland seas still retains its charm. This week they returned after a; stay of three weeks, and to the "Central Press” Mr Kirkwood spoke in enthusiastic terms of his ninth holiday trip to the Sounds. The Portage is picturesquely situated about half way up the Kenepuru Sound. On arrival at Picton by the' Tamahine the visitors board a launch and proceed for about seven miles to Torea-Moua Bay. On landing, luggage it l taken by car over the hill to the Portage. To go direct from Picton by launch to the Portage would take at least twelve hours, involving a journey through Queen. Charlote Sound, into Pelorus Sound and then

up Kenepuru. The holiday maker is well catered for by launches running to various parts of the Sounds at a very reasonable cost. At Ships Cove the native bush has been preserved untouched and this historic spot is visited by thousands during the year. Throug* out the sounds there are many mile of tracks which afford enchanting vistas of forest and inland, seas. Tiny Tree Ferns. Wherever sunlight filters through to the forest floor tree ferns spring up. Ine one ten-acre section Mr. Kirkwood saw thousands ot tiny tree ferns which, in a few years, should present a marvellous sight. Innumerable tuis, pigeons and silver eyes are a delight to the bird-lover. During his stay, Mr. Kirkwood securea many photographs to add to his already larg. collection. The people in the Sounds district were most hospitable to the visitors. For the most part they are farmers and it has been estimated thait are at least 100,000 sheep in tfie Sounds besides cattle. The quietude ot the Sounds appealed to Mr. Kirkwood and he comment, ed that it was a splendid place to go to think. “That Is one of the reasouß why I go here,” he naively remarked.