ARTHUR'S PASS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21533, 24 July 1935, Page 17

ARTHUR'S PASS

A VALUABLE HANDBOOK During the last few • year* tt* Arthur's Pass National Bark baß btt . come the alpine playground of Canterbury, and a rapidly inowastag nunv ber of Canterbury people are taking advantage of the splendid facitttiesHj offers for tramping, climbing, winter snow sports, and shooting. To these* as well as to the many who are content to enjoy the glorious scenery of the area from the motor road over W mountains, the publication "Handbook of the' Arthur's Para National Park" will be particularly welcome. „ ' ~ _ Mr R. S. Odell, the author of the handbook, has an exceptional knowledge of his subject, for as an officer of the Lands and Surviey department he has carried out a» great deal of research, into the early history, and aj a mountaineer he was responsible for the exploration of some of the) more remote valleys and peaks of the area. The results of his work are Be* out in the handbook in a very manner. Mr Odell has made a very readable story of the history of thepass, its early use by Maori tribes, Its rediscovery by white explorers, ' fh« building of the road, the coaching days, the West Coast gold rush, am the construction of the railway tunnel* There is a comprehensive description of the attractions and amenities of the national park, and articles are conr tributed by a number of experts on ! special subjects. i Mr C. ri. *ervey describes the tracks and trails that give access—of varying degrees of ease—to the Various parts of the national park, tod • this information is particularly helpful to trampers and! excursionists. The routes of ascent, descent, and traverse of ell the peaks are described by Mr J. D. Pascoe, while the geology of. the district is described by Professm* S. Speight and the vegetation by Mr J. W. Mitchell, jun. Mr Ctf eU's histbrlcaj account of the origin of the place names in the national park is informative and full of interesting anecdote. The handbook, of 104 pages, is attractively printed and contains Urease' cellent illustrations and a map. It If published by Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., Christchurch.