WAIHO GORGE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1930, Page 2

WAIHO GORGE

MORE RAPID ACCESS. 1N VESTIG ATION PR CAUSED. (Christchurch 1 ‘Press.’ ) CHRISTCHURCH, August An investigation is to be made by the Railway Department of Air Peter Graham’s proposal that AYaiho Gorge should be brought within one day's journey of Christchurch through a motor service connecting with the AVest Const express at Otira. At present l y way of Hokitika, the trip takes two days, mid the return very often, three days. Mr Graham travelled to AVellington last week to put his plan before the Minister for Railways (the HonW. A. A r eitch), the assistant manager (Mr M, Dennehy), the general manager of the Tourist Department (Mr C. H. Clinkard), and other Government officials. The Minister, Air Dennehy, and Air Clinkard, were all favourably impressed, and although they cannot promise immediately the necessary change in the railway timetable, the proposal is to be fully and sympathetically investigated.

Details of Mr Graham’s, plan were published in “The Press” a ifortnightago. It provides that visitors.. for Waiho should leave the express:: >at Otira and make the rest of the trip

b J T service-car the.same day, necessitating in this case an earlier departure of the train from: Christchurch. ; For the return they- would travel ffom Waiho to Otira before borfrding‘ the train. 1

GREATER VALUE FOR TOURISTS,

At present the minimum time ‘for the trip, allowing only one day at'the Gorg'e, is five or even six days, ii The change would reduce this minimum to three days. It would greatly increase the value of the Glacier as a tourist resort, not merely because of the short minimum trip, . but because . it would enable visitors to spend there the extra days which are now occupied in a none-too-exciting train journey to and from .Hokitika. On his way to Wellington, Mr Graham driving his own oar, tested the time to Otira making the journey in less than six hours,

At Christchurch, the t Divisional Superintendent (Mr R. S, Jvent) has also been favourably impressed by;• the proposal. When the coastal road from Greymouth is opened, and passengers for Reefton and Westport do not nave to leave the express at a fixed time at Stillwater, the plan may be even more feasible.

Mr Graham regrets that there has been some antagonism to the plan in Hokotika on the ground that this town would be overlooked by tourists. He points out that any move that assists in the deveolpment of Westland and South Westland as a tourist resortmust reflect its benefit in Hokitika, and asks the people there to take a wider view of the whole scheme.