GOOD SCENERY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1912, Page 9

GOOD SCENERY.

INTERESTING EXPEDITION. HEAD WATERS OF WAIMAKARIRI RIVER. [JJX XELEGRArH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] CHRISTCHUROH, This Day. Mr. A. P. Harper, of Christch'ureh, has returned from an interesting little expedition to the head waters of the WaimakarH River. He was accompanied by Mr. Eric Harper and Lieut. G. Dsnniston, of H.M.S. Pioneer. The party left Christchurch on 4th April. They went to the Bealey by train and coach, pnd after a, ride of about fifteen miles from the Bealey Hotel reached a camp at the junction of the Whito N River, and the Waimakariri at 7 p.m. ths same day. v In sketching the party's operations, in conversation with a reporter, Mr. A. P. Harper said that on tho following day, sth April, Mount Davie. the bigpeak seen, from the coach road, lying at the head of the Waimakariri River, was ascended. On '6lh April tho main river was followed to a place near its source. At th«. head of that valley a most remarkable piece of gorge scenery was found. The river, after leaving the small glacier nt its source, flowed through a desolate rocky basin for about half a mile, and then dropped over a fine fall of some hundred feet into a '■husm with sheer rocky walls. After a bhort open reach for a few hundred yards, it washed down roughly from 600 ft to 800 ft in tho next quarter of ai mile, over waterfalls varying from 20ft to 100 ft. In v nariow cleft in the- rock th© river had evidently cut out v soft stratum, and had formed a gorge well worth teeing. In places that canyon was only sit wide, and could be jumped with ease. It seldom widened to more than 20ft. Below, in acini darkness, the river roared over falls into deep, boiling, rocky pools. v WORTH SEEING. Mr. Harper said that with all his experience in the Alps he had seen no piece of river scenery more worth seeing than at that place. The whole locality was within easy reach of Christchurch, and was more worth a visit than many places better known as tourist resorts. ( Up the White River the glaciers and icefields were unexpectedly extensive. The peak ascended by the party afforded five hours and a-half of ice and enow work, and to show its accessibility Mr. Harper stated that the summit was reached soon after midday on the day after leaving Christchurch. It proved a very comfortable base camp. In its present states however, he added, the locality was not suited to fair-weather tourists— it was an admirable holiday resort for members of a ramping party who were ready for some rough river travel and hill scrambles. The icefields were quite large enough to require care, anil, as an old Alpine climber, he advised the inclusion of a man experienced in snow and icework in any party attempting to climb the higher peaks of the White River Valley. There was plenty of scenery, including the gorge mentioned, which only required ordinary powers of rough walking. Mr. Harper added that it wa6 very probable, although the maps did not show tho features of > that valley, that some of tho early pioneers penetrated far enough up tho main branch to see the gorge which he had described,, but, unfortunately,, very few records remained of tho fine work done by those first explorers. In any case, it seemed to be worth while to call attention to the blace, as it was within easy reach of Christchurch, and had been long since lost eight of, if it had 'ever been described before. It is understood that a recommendation has been made to the Tourist Department to put up an iron hut where the party camped. If this is done many people, doubtless, will "Hake advantage of an outing so easily accessible from the city.