BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND

Evening Star, Issue 20029, 21 November 1928, Page 2

BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND

ITS CHARMING SCENIC ATTRACTIONS That people should see and enjoy the beautiful and wonderful mountains and lakes of New Zealand before seeking pleasure in other countries was evidently the primary object of a lecture under the auspices of the Otago Expansion League, given in the Y.M.C.A. Assembly Hall last evening. Mr Eric James, of Makarora, and Mr Eric Miller, of Dunedin, were the lecturers, while Sir W. F. Simpson operated an electric lantern in placing about 150 coloured views of South Island beauty spots on the screen. The speakers were accorded tho rapt attention of a large audience. In introducing the speakers, Air IV. B. Steel, on behalf of the Expansion League, said it was intended to show some of the beauty spots of ogr “little” dominion. The country dealt with by Mr James lay in the practically unknown regions of South Westland, while Mr Miller would traverse the country near Pembroke, the shores of Lake Wanaka, and of the valleys, lakes, and mountains in the surrounding areas. Mr James briefly described his excellent series of pictures, which included a view of the country looking to the west from Haast Saddle, the Clark and Burke huts, the Wells Gorge, the Hooker Peak (8,644 ft), the Otoko Pass leading to the Kaprmga Valley, Hapuka Creek, the Turnbull River, (bordered with first-class dairying land), Lake Wanaka at sunset, bush scenes on the track leading to the Clark hut, the Fox Glacier (where a new hostel is to be opened this month), views showing tljo rough surface of glaciers, a distant view of the Graham Saddle, Mount Cook from Okarito, Lake Kanieri, and tho new road between Greymouth and Westport. The Hooker Peak is one of the highest unclimbed peaks in New Zealand. Mr S. Turner, of Wellington, will make an attempt next month to roach its summit. At Hapuka Creek there are large quantities of white pine, which is used tor the making of butter boxes, while the waters of the creek are teeming with a good variety of fish, and shoals of whitebait in season. Mr James remarked that he thought it would not bo long before a canning industry was set up in the district. Scenes of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman were shown. A view of Lake Canary, where tho accommodation house was burnt down three weeks and of the Franz Josef hostel, where o,00t) guests were registered last year. The fine scenery on tho Groenstone-Holly-ford track to Martin’s Bay was included among the slides. Mr Miller’s views were taken near Pembroke, afc Gloudhu, Matukituki ley, Cattle Flat, and other parts in the same district, and although better known than the. ones shown by Mr James, were interesting to a degree. These places, remarked 3\lr Millerwore some of the few accessible mountain resorts in New Zealand. At the conclusion of the addresses both speakers were accorded a hearty vote or thanks.