SOUTH ISLAND TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1939, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND TOUR

TRIP DOWN WEST COAST.

VISIT TO FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER. Stating that on account of the cold, all members of the party were pleased to leave Greymouth, Mr C. Mackay, one of the Wairarapa Young Farmers who toured the South Island recently, in a description of the trip from that town to Franz Josef Glacier, stated that the road to Hokitika was practically tar-sealed the whole way. It was the longest sealed stretch seen on the West Coast. About 6 or 7 miles past Hokitika and about one mile distant from the road, the Kanieri gold dredge and also the Americanowned Rimu dredge could be seen. The road for a number of miles south was being widened and straightened. The country was heavily clad in bush all the way to Franz Josef. At lunch time a stop was made at a small village called Hari-Hari. The road, although! narrow, had quite a fair surface, and wound its way round the hills in every direction. At one place they stopped to admire a magnificent view of Lake lanthe. The road was several hundred feet above the lake and tall, towering trees, combined with the reflection of snow-capped hills, gave a marvellous view. On arrival at the Franz Josef Hostel many of the party walked to the glacier, eager to get their first glimpse of the great river of ice before darkness set in.