THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 110, 3 February 1930, Page 11

THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS

A PLEASANT RESORT. Through the entrpriße of the Union Steam Ship Company the glories of the Marlborough Sounds are rapidly becoming familiar to Wellington people. Only about 50 miles from the capital city, it is not surprising that each summer sees more and more city dwellers refresh jaded nerves by a sojourn amidst the restful beauties of the Sounds. The Tamahine was a crowded ship when she left the city at 1.15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon for Picton. In addition to hundreds of people who went over for the week-end trip were several families who were going across to enjoy their annual holiday in the Sounds. The excursionists at the week-end were extremely fortunate in that perfect weather prevailed for the trip. After an enjoyable dance on the spacious decks of th* Tamahine on Saturday night, to delectable music supplied by the Kit Cat Band, the steamer quietly slipped away from the Picton wharf at 4 o’clock on Sunday morning, and the excursionists awoke to find themselves among the bewitching 'beauties of Pelorus Sound. The Tamahine anchored in Tennyson Inlet, and from this base fishing, tramping and swimming parties set out in various directions to explore still further the thousand beauties. Several overseas’ visitors amongst the parties went into raptures over the mountain, bush and seascapes which unfolded themselves in endless succession. The sea was so calm that it acted as a gigantic mirror which reflected the beauties of the densely-wood-■ed '/ills until one felt that a piece of heaven lay on the earth below. The climb up the "Tamahine Trail, which winds through the native bush up the hillside at Tennyson Inlet, was a real delight, with its glorious ferns and wealth of native flora. The wilderness of green was splashed here'and there with the rata’s red, and the sweet notes of the tui were over all. . Captain R. Kane and his officers did everything possible to see that their •nies’ts spent an' ejoyable time. Mr. AV. E Hancock, of the Union Company’* staff, who has acted as supervisor of these trips for the past five years, added to the pleasure nnd interest of the tour by explaining the history of the many points touched at. Mr. Hancock declared that he never remembered more perfect weather for the trip. The Tamahine arrived back at the Queen’s Wharf at 9.30 o’clock last night, when a tired but very well satisfied party filed off the steamer, each and all singing the praises of the Marlborough Sounds, and firmly declaring their determination to sea more of them.