THE SOUTHERN ALPS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1929, Page 13

THE SOUTHERN ALPS

SIR DUDLEY DE CHAIR'S TOUR

..,Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair. (Governor of New South Wales),.accompanied by Lady de Chair, son and daughter, arrived in Wellington on Saturday morning last, having visited the Franz Josef glacier and the Fox glacier.

Speaking of their tour, Sir Dudley de Chair expressed his greatest surprise and amazement at the beauty and grandeur of the Otira Gorge, the interesting approach from Hokitika to the glaciers, and the wonderful and extraordinary proximity of. ice and vegetation. He and his party walked three miles along a beautiful jungle track to come out right on top of the glacier. Mr. Peter Graham, proprietor of the Glacier Hotel, acted as guide^ and Admiral de Chair said' that cross' ing the narrow ridges of ice, with yawning chasms on either side, was one of the most entertaining experiences he had ever enjoyed.

11l the trip to the Fox glacier the party had to cross a swollen torrent which had swept the bridge away. He was immensely struck by the resourcefulness of the motor driver, Norman Fairlic, who managed to get the car through the river although the bonnet was completely submerged at times and the water flooded the floor boards. Sir Dudley and party were genuinely sorry when the time came to leave this beautiful place, and he will recommend his friends in Australia to visit and enjoy the grand spectacle so near to them.

The Admiral said he had "never seen so much of interest in so short a time," and he very much appreciated the great courtesy and consideration extended to him and his family by the New Zealand Government, the Tourist Bureau, and the Railway Department during his flying visit to this Dominion.