MOUNT COOK HERMITAGE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13100, 27 April 1908, Page 8

MOUNT COOK HERMITAGE.

(SrECI-J- TO "THE PRESS.")

WELLINGTON, April 26

The new Hermitago at Mount Cook will b© built ot. a commanding sit© ■at Governor's Bush. This is the. ono piece of. bush now left near Mount Cook, on the east_frn side of th© divide. <A beautiful stream runs past it from em..?. ..glaciers situated high up onthe Scaly range, which towers"'to a height of 6000 feet in the immediate background. From tho front windows _najnii-ie_nt views of Mount Cook (12,349 ft), Mount Sefton (10,350 ft). St. David's Dome (9948 ft) and tlie bold rocky peaks of tho Li .beg rang<\ will bo procurable. In order to make aci ce-<s;"easy to jtho great Tasman glacier, where the:, grandest scenery in th© whole of the Southern Alps is io be found, it will bo necessary to bridge •tlie Hooker river at the end of tlio southern spur of Mount Cook. At .present tho crossing is by a cage on t» strong wire rope suspended high above the foaming Hooker river. 3lany tourists, however, do not care to face tin's ordeal, and crossing tho torrent on horseback is positively, dangerous. The old suspension, bridge near the present Hermitage will only be suitable for excursions up the Hooker Valley.- The new Hermitage will be built of stone, wlu'ch can be procured quito close to the site chosen. It is not expected that tho building will be ready in time for next season.,

The n-?w accommodation house wiill bo a. much larger building than tlio present struct.ire. Mr J. Campbell (Government Architect) states that itwill ho built of ".ooal stone, roughfaced, and of a rustic, pictnresone design. The material of the present accommodation hon.e wdl probably be TKed for out-building... Tenders for the new structure will bo called immediately.