Fiordland

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31256, 31 December 1966, Page 4

Fiordland

Fiordland. By Jack McClenaghan. A. H. and A. W. Reed. 176 p.p., illustrated and index.

Jack McClenaghan, an Invercargill journalist, has written a vivid description of Fiordland its history, animals, climate, its problems and its highlights. The history is a collection of stories of early explorers, sealers, prospectors, track builders, hunters and even pirates who made contributions to a little known part of our land. These stories range in time from the days of Captain Cook to Davie Gunn who was drowned in the Hollyford in 1955.

The author seems most interested in the bird and animal life and he writes a great deal about the attempts made to conserve the remnants of rare species of birds. Yet his sympathies seem to be more with the deer shooters than with the conservators and he does appear to know shooters who have found kakapo but will not reveal their whereabouts for fear of having their shooting blocks closed. Mr McClenaghan seems to consider there is no solution to the fact that avalanche danger causes the Homer Tunnel to be closed for five months each year. Engineers and glaciologists have devised road protecting structures in Switzerland. Although these can be expensive the readers of this excellent book should not be made to feel the best known Sound has to be cut off each year for generations to come.

The two maps would have been much clearer with some shading of lakes and fiords and many places mentioned in the text cannot be seen on a map. The once thriving town of Cromarty, which has many tales recorded about it is a sad omission in this respect. It is also surprising that mountaineering is hardly mentioned. Present-day Invercargill people are regularly climbing in the Darran and other ranges and there are many colourful tales to be told of Samuel Turner and earlier men who explored the highest corners of Fiordland. In spite of these minor failings, “Fiordland” is a most enjoyable and enlightening book. It is full of interest to those who want to know more about our land, and it contains much important background information for anyone wishing to go into the area .