WINTER SPORTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14194, 7 November 1911, Page 2

WINTER SPORTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

CANTERBURY SNOW AND GLACIER .DISTRICTS.

Tho Primo Minister, during his recent visit to this city, stated that in regard to tho provision of •winter amusements tho Tourist Department was making every endeavour to popularise the trip to the Waimakariri glaciers, the intention being to make it a plensurablo week-end trip. A "Press" reporter had an interview with Mr R. Speight, who knows the glacier district very well, as to the chances of successfully introducing winter sports, such as skating, ski-ing, and toboganning. Mr Speight said that he could hardly speak with much authority on tho subject, as he did not know exactly what ■were the conditions required for ski-ing and toboganning. As to skating, the best sheet of water he knew of was Lake Heron, at the back of Mount Somers. The water in that lako froze to a thickness of nine inches every winter, and skating took place on it. It gave a fine run of about five miles distance. Then, it was said that the big nonds at Lake Coleridge froze during the winter. The trouble was that most of the lakes which might be suitable were not readily accessible, and until tJiey were there would no chance of making trips to them "popular." The chances of ski-ing and tobogganin., being successfully carried on at tho Waimakariri glaciers did not impress Mr Speight. He pointed out that tne country was very precipitous and mountainous, and that it would be a very difficult thing to ascend the steeps, even if it would be safe to come down on ski. The fall of snow was also a difficulty. Tliere might be a much header fall on the outsides of the hills than there was on the sides facing the valleys. Sometimes tho reverse was the case, and there would be a heavier fall on the inside. The Waimakariri glacier district had attraction in tho way of bush and scenery, but he was afraid that in connection with the sports discussed it had few possibilities.