THE SUTHERLAND FALLS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8071, 14 January 1892, Page 6

THE SUTHERLAND FALLS.

AM INTERESTING TRIP.

On Saturday (says the. " Southland Daily News ") a party of fourteen Dunedin ladies and gentlemen, an equal number both sexes, most of whom are connected with the teaching profession, arrived in Invercargill from the Te Anau district on their return I journey home. • Those comprising it were J Mesdames Johnson.and R. W. Whetter, Misses Maxwell, Anderson, Steel, and Fraaer (2), and Messrs J. A. Johnson, R. W. Whetter, J. Daggar, JBaUantyne, S. Maxwell, T. D. Pearce, and A. E. Gascoigne. Provided with an ample stock of provisions and also tents for use in camping out they left Dtmedin on the 21st December and passed on from Gore across the Waimea Plains railway to Lumsden, where a stay was made for the evening. Here a drag, hired from Brewer and Trembath of Gore, met the excursionists, and next morning a start was made on the road to Lake Manapouri, the ladies, with the luggage, being accommodated in the conveyance and the gentlemen taking Shanks' pony. Not being limited to time, there was no occasion for hurrying, and the distance was accomplished in easy stages. On Tuesday night camp was pitched at Centre Hill creek, a few miles beyond Mossburn, and the men soon had a roaring fire ablaze and the ladies engaged in preparing the evening meal for the jovial company. The keen fresh air that sweeps down the mountain side, added to the exercise of travelling and the- excellent cooking, had a marked effect on the appetites of.all, and a hole was made in the provisions that perceptibly lightened the burden of the horses for the following, day. On Wednesday about thirty miles was accomplished, and tents were:pitched at Dome creek, some six miles this side of Manapouri, which was reached early on Thursday morning, all being eager to catch a first glimpseof that beautiful sheet of water dotted with islets, with snow covered mountains in the background. Here they remained for five days putting in the time, in spite of frequent rain, very pleasantly, boating, botanising and sketching, the tents t.being their dwelling-place all -through. particularly along the Waiau -was found really magnificent, and paradise ducks and swans were seen in great numbers. Here Mr £- MurrelL junr., has completed ,

the erection of his accommodation house, which contains six rooms, and is in readiness to receive visitors. On Tuesday, 29th December, a start was made for Lake Te Anau, twelve miles distant, the party embarking the following day in the steamer Ripple (formerly the Te Uira) for tfie head of the Lake. This was reached after ten hours' steaming, and all retired to rest with happy dreams of what the morrow was to afford, in the form of Nature's grand sights. A very wet morning (Thursday, 31et Dec.), though somewhat depressing, did not damp the ardour of the visitors, who secured provisions and baggage in convenient swags* ad began to tramp it, ladies included, along the Government track to the Sutherland Falls,, some 18 miles distant. There is a good deal of fairly rough climbing to be done over the first portion of the track, which is in parts covered with scrub. The latter was found a great hindrance by the ladies, whose dresses frequently got caught on the prickly kind of ehrubs, with disastrous results, and we have the authority for one of the party for stating that the whole track is so well marked by portions of female wearing apparel as to be absolutely unmistakable. Every few yards where is a beacon of this nature on a bush, to keep the traveller on the right path. The ladies may. therefore, console themselves with the reflection that their loss may be the salvation of some benighted tourist. The roofs were found to be off the Government huts at the hilf-way peg. This is said to have been the work of tbX escaped convicts Middleton and Maeuire who also destroyed the boats at Lake Ada. The Government ought to have the damage repaired as soon as possible, some of the other prisoners from Milford mighc be put on the job. . On New Year's afternoon Pompiluna was reached, and here McKinnon, along with Mr Maitland from Dunedin joined the party. Heavy rain fell the whole of New Year's Day and the 2nd which interfered with progress, but on Sunday the majority set out with swags for the Sutherland Falls. The saddle was crossed in drenching rain, Beech hut reached at 4 p.m., and the great sight was in view in the evening. Owing to the melting of tbe snow on the mountains the volumeof water descending was very large, and the sight a grand one, well repaying the roughing done to witness it. Camp was again pitched for the night, and on Monday morning the return journey was commenced, a dense fog on the Saddle rendering travel somewhat difficult and risky. Pompiluna was safely reached, aud on Tuesday, the sth instant, the whole party started back for the head of the Lake by way of the Clinton River, where a beautiful panoramic view was unfolded. The following day a portion of the excursionists went down to the foot of the Lake in McKinnon's boat, and sent on the steamer for the remainder, who reached Mr Snodgrass' hotel on Thursday, making the run down of forty miles in the respectable time of seven hours. They pushed on to Lynwood station, where they camped the same evening, and on Friday, the Bth, a start was made at seven in the morning for Lumsden. The ladies rode in the conveyance, and the men walked. The distance is forty-three miles over a road pretty.rough in places, and all reached their destination safely at 9 p.m.— a very creditable performance indeed for the pedestrians. Out of the whole time unfortunately only two really fine days were experienced, and consequently the holiday-makers got into camp almost every evening with their clothes wet, and had to travel in the rain. They had intended to go on to Milford, but the convicts bad played havoc with McKinnon's camp, and, as already stated, smashed the boats at Lake Ada. Owing to the heavy rain, cascades were coming down the mountain side a distance of fully 2500 ft, up the Clinton Valley, and presented a scene quite as impressive as the Sutherland Falls. The party secured a few keas and blue mountain ducks as mementoes of their trip. The ladies, it should be mentioned, stood the • travelling and camp life admirably, the only drawback being that they had not provided themselves with gymnastic costumes,, which in those parte are an essential to comfortable travelling. Notwithstanding the weather the whole party enjoyed the best of health, not one contracting even a slight cold. '

As an indication of the cheapness of the trip to the Lakes, it should be added that the cost for the two weeks' holiday only amounted to £5 each. ; ''*