THE GLACIERS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18626, 26 February 1926, Page 7

THE GLACIERS.

e— — A UNIQUE ATTRACTION. REMARKABLE ACCESSIBILITY. About ninety miles south of Hokitika ia the Franz Josef Glacier, destined some day to become so well known among tourists that no world tour will be complete without a visit to this unique and wonderful attraction, and no overseas holidaymaker will think of leaving it out of his itinerary. Many people are discouraged by the word "glacier," visualising dangerous climbs up steep mountain sides and over country so rough as to cause the most reckless and the hardiest to quail, but no mountaineering is needed at the Franz Josef, and tho only broken country to be crossed is the narrow riverbed of the Waiho, which issues from underneath the great ice river. An up-to-date hotel kept by the Graham Brothers—famous Alpine . guides—at Waiho, is only two or three miles from the foot of the glacier, which is reached by a track through sub-tropical bush. Any women can negotiate this track without discomfort or tho slightest distress, as it' ascends only a few feet between the hotel and the glacier, and it has been beaten smooth by the tramp of many feet. .. Franz Josef has been described in the following terms: — The glacier is about half a mile across, the point rising abruptly like a wall, here and there cut into caves, the lower part having at a short distance much the appearance of a grey rock, from the gravel and stoues covering it. From a large cave at tho southern end flows forth the first of the Waiho, which runs close across the front of the glacier. Upwards for miles lies the solid icy mass filling up the huge gully between the lofty hills, and finally hidden from sight by a bend of the mountains. The ice assumes all manner of fantastic shapes. At the base there is a perfect bridge, bright and clear, but not to be trodden by human foot. Higher up is a huge pinnacle with an eye through which the sunlight seems to stream. These are striking points, but ever new beauties in the view meet the wandering eye, and the effect produced on tho mind is beyond description. The low altitudo of'this glacier—about' 673 feet above the sea level, and the luxuriant vegetation in close proximity to tho ice, a vegetation covering the hills on both sides of the glacier for a, height of from 800 feet to 1000 feet—are the most remarkable features.

The Fox Glacier. In an .account of the visit of the Hon. W. Fox to the. glacier now bearing his name, there is the following graphie description: "Thoy came within view of a grand glacier falling from the lofty mountains in one solid body, and conveying the idea of a mighty, rushing, overwhelming river suddenly chained and fixed by frost. When first presented to the view the scene was most grand and singular. By perseverance the glacier was reached, but, to obtain a good view of it, crossing tho river to the south side was necessary, and that, at first sight, seemed impossible. . Soon, however, the discovery was made that close up to the base of the glacier the river ran in several streams. Crossing some of these, and crawling over large boulders, and sometimes over the lower parts of the glacier, the-party succeeded in reaching the south side in safety, when Mr Fox took some sketches of the magnificent scenery before him. Tho debris continually falling down the glacier was very considerable, and the whole of the lower part appears from a short distance as if composed of grey stones. On the southern side of the point stands a lofty wooded hill, 'from which a fine view of the stupendous mass of ice can be had, but there was . not sufficient time to examine it from that spot. The appearance of tho glacier when closely approached is not so picturesque as the Waiho Glacier, but is perhaps more nobly grand in its simplicity. Its height is 770 feet, and therefore nearly 100 feet higher than the Waiho glacier. The water does not seem to flow out of it as from the Waiho Glacier, but bubbles up in its' front, where there is a remarkable fountain throwing out a great body of water, boiling Up some feet in height. The effect of the whole view, like that of the Waiho glacier, is much heightened by tho bright red of the rata flowers. As tho party proposed to return to Gilespie's "Bleach the same day,but little time could be spared at the glacier, and having christened it the "Fox Glacier," the return was commenced soon after 2 p.m. Travelling homeward, several stoppages were made, and excellent views obtained of the glacier and Mount Cook range in their majestic grandeur.