STUDENTS ON TOUR

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 19 January 1933, Page 2

STUDENTS ON TOUR

AUSTRALIAN PARTY’S VISIT. SCENIC WONDERS PRAISED. DUNEDIN, Jan. 17. The -opinion that the diversity of scenic forms to be found in New Zealand was was- expressed this morning by Professor Macdonald Holmes, Professor of Geography -at Sydney University, who is leading a, party of nine students, comprising men and women, through the Dominion. The visitors, who spent last night here and left for the North Island this morning, landed at Wellington and came straight -south to Christchurch, Timaru, and Mount Cook, thence across to Queenstown and the Milford Track. The programme of the future includes visits to Tongariro National Park, Rotorua, and the Waitomo Caves. Two of the professor’s- elder students left the mam party and made- a trip over to the Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers, but they, have -since rejoined the others. A study of the fiord country was of greatest interest to- the tourists, who have also- been investigating glacial formations. Of special interest to- the party were the movements of the Tasman Glacier, which is thought to be ) expanding to the -sides and growing shallower.

In the North Inland the professor and his students will carry out. research work into volcanic formations.

When invited to give a general opinion of the Dominion as he saw it. Professor Holmes said that the thing that struck him very pleasantly was the rural atmosphere as evidenced by the lovely aroma of hay, grass and hedges. In this respect he was leminded of the Old Country. In Australia there was nothing; like it on a large scale. The tourist facilities were extremely satisfactory on the Milford Track. There was a very fine hostel at each end and the hut's erected at suitable intervals were noteworthy for the comfort and convenience they afforded travellers. The fact that hot showers and a drying room were always available was much appreciated. Personally he had not found sandflies' at all bad and was only then beginning to itch from a few bites he had received. —“Dominion” Service.