A GUIDE FOR TOURISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 158, 6 July 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

A GUIDE FOR TOURISTS.

AND FOR NEW ZEALANDERS,

DR. HARROP'S BOOK.

Nearly every country in the world now desires and endeavours to attract tourists within its boundaries, and the shouting in the market-place is such that intending travellers tend to become sceptical of all claims. Whether or not Dr. A. J. Harrop had this in mind when he was writing "Touring in New Zealand" (Allen and Unwin), it is noticeable that his book is quiet and unromantio- in tone, and full of relevant facts. The prospective tourist who takes'it up must be impressed first with the important circumstance, that its author, a New Zealander, revisited his country as recently as 1934, and himself travelled 8000 miles over the routes he describes. The information' lie gives, therefore, is up to date. It is, in addition, concisely written, and (so far as one reader was able to discover) it is completely accurate, not only in detail but in proportion. Dr. Harrop rightly insists that nobody can claim even a superficial acquaintance with New Zealand who has not seen the beauties of the South Island. He has emphasised this by describing the South Isiand first, and including a description of the new road from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound. (There are a great many New Zeaalnders to whom this, and, indeed, much other information in tho book, will be new.) Knowing, as a New Zealander, that a traveller might see a large part of the Dominion without once setting eyes on one of the Maori race, Dr. Harrop has given much less space to the Maoris than is usual in such publications, but he • has made appropriate i|se of Maori history and legend in his narrative. Realising that even a tourist does not live by scenery alone, he stimulates the imagination by historical summaries - and by descriptions of such institutions as the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the Alexander Turnbull Library and the great Dumas collection in the possession of Mr. F. W. Reed, of Whangarei. In such places, he rightly points out, there are to be seen books, relics and documents which can be seen nowhere else in the world.

The book contains chapters also on New Zealand's curative springs (which are more numerous and vari'ous than most New Zealanders know), the primary industries, winter sports, angling, deep-sea fishing, deer Rtalking and other shooting, summer cruises, air travel and notes on "Clothes, Food and Local Customs." There is also a section devoted to travel arrangements, and specimen itineraries of journeys occupying periods from 44 day? to five.

The illustrations, more than twenty in number, are excellent. A short list of books relating to New Zealand, a reprint of an admirable address by Lord Bledisloe on New Zealand trees, a tourist map and a good index, complete the volume, which rims to only 29y pages. An} New Zealander after reading it will say that Dr. Harrop has done a most useful service to the Dominion, and that the book is fully worth its moderate price. Our copy comes from Messrs. Whitcombc and Tombs, Ltd.