MILFORD SOUND PROJECTS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22338, 28 February 1938, Page 11

MILFORD SOUND PROJECTS

WHARF AT NEW HOSTEL CONTEMPLATED COMPLETION OF TUNNEL ROAD AWAITED Where Donald Sutherland, 'the hermit of the sounds." first pitched his tent in 1876 at Milford Sound, the erection of a new hostel, to replace the present wooden accommodation house, is contemplated by the Government. The building of a wharf at which tourist ships could berth is likely to be one of the major works to be undertaken when the worldfamed sound is made accessible to motor traffic on the completion of the road through the Homer tunnel. To-day. Milford is grandly isolated. The only access from the hinterland of Otago is by the track from the head of Lake Te Anau. the walk occupying three easy stages, with the visitors staying overnight at the Pompalona and Quintin Huts, and on the third daj taking the launch from Sandfly Point down the lower reach of the Arthur river across to the landing stage near the hostel. Passengers from the tourist and excursion ships are ferried, ashore in the vessels' boats. "It is rather premature to talk about plans, but certainly developments will take place to meet the increased traffic when the Eglinton Valley road through the Homer tunnel is completed." said the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) on Saturday. "The natural corollary to tne opening-up of Milford is further development there to cope with the anticipated extra tourist traffic." A demand for a new accommodation house would be created and would have to be met. because the road to Milford would be one of the best tourist routes in the world, the Minister Sa ksked whether the Government proposed, when the new hostel was built, to construct a wharf capable of accommodating visiting ships which now have to anchor some distance off the head of the sound, Mr Semple said that that problem would have to be faced. It was too early vet to make a statement, as the whole question of facilities at Milford Sound was now under review. -