WEEK-END EXCURSIONS

Evening Star, Issue 21519, 18 September 1933, Page 11

WEEK-END EXCURSIONS

An advertisement in this issue gives the news that the cheap week-end trips to the Hermitage, Mount Cook, promoted by the Railway Department in co-operation with the Mount Cook Tourist Company, will begin on September 22. These excursions give easy opportunities to folk of moderate means to have a delightful holiday in a region of charm, which is deservedly known as “ the world’s best alpine playground ” —a fact admitted by distinguished visitors from many countries. Professor A. J. Grant, of Leeds University, wrote

the following tribute; —"Switzerland has been called ‘ The Playground of Europe ’ by Leslie Stephen in his wellknown book. It is not a more lovely nor more interesting playground than the mountain lands of New Zealand, and they have many interesting individual features of their own. The future centuries will sec increasing bands of visitors coming to climb the mountains, to rejoice in the form and colour of the snow-clad peaks, to investigate the strange geographical forms and the distinctive native birds and plants. And, above all, 1 think they will rejoice in the sun!”