THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 90, 11 January 1924, Page 5

THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH

AMERICAN DELIGHTED WITH TOUR GOOD ROADS AND SUNSHINE " ”' ' The South Island is a most delectable region just now, according to Mr. David F. Ladin, representative of the General Motors Export Company, of New York, who, with Mrs. Ladin, has just returned from a month’s tour of the island. The tour, Mr. Ladin informed a DominiOx reporter yesterday, extended from Lyttelton to Invercargill, and then back via Christchurch through the Otira Gorge to Greymouth and Westport, and back once more to Christchurch. Hero Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Nagle, and Mr. Fathers, of Wellington,' joined Mr. and Mrs. Ladin, and the augmented party paid a visit to the Mount Cook Hermitage, where several days werto spent, a visit being later paid to the San Josef Glacier. Mr. Ladin stated that good weather had been experienced almost throughout th’e whole tour, and thev found the roads in excellent order. The continued' drought had adversely, affected the green crops, particularly in South Canterbury, and in more than one district they had seen crops which had been sown, but had become stunted for want of water, being ploughed in again. He had heard that Central Otago had had a similar experience. They had had some rain in tlie south, but it had not come in time to save many of 'the crops. . In the course of the tour, the Hokitika Exhibition had been visited, and found to be a most creditable display, considering it was a West Coast and not a Dominion exposition. The accommodation at the Mount Cook Hermitage had been found . all that could be desired, though the time had arrived when provision should be made for increased traffic. Extra garage accommodation was also required for rusli periods. No doubt when the present buildings had been erected they were adequate for the business offering, but the tourist, traffic was increasing, and larger buildings would make for added comfort. Control of the accommodation at the. Hermitage Was now in the hands of private enterprise, which would, no doubt, study its own and the tourists’ interests. A very pleasant time had lieen spent in the vicinity of Mount Cook. ... He did not make the ascent, smilingly remarked Mr. Ladin, “but we had all the alpine climbing we desired on lower altitudes.” The majestic scenery had been much admired and the noble mountain, towering 10,000 feet into the rarified air, presented a scene of rare grandeur. The run through the heavily-wooded country to San Josef Glacier was another delightful experience. Here heavy rain was experienced for the first time, and 1 delays were occasioned in- crossing mountain streams, which in this region rise and fall very rapidly It had only been intended to stop one day at the glacier, but, owing to ih-o heavy rain, the best part of five davs had to be put in there. Tho whole tour, concluded Mr. Ladin, had been a most enjoyable one, and the party had returned with pleasant memories of tlie beautiful South Island and its hospitable people.