Wanaka Visited by Lake County Council.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume 4185, Issue 4185, 20 November 1934, Page 4

Wanaka Visited by Lake County Council.

For the first time since its constitution in 1877 the Lake County Council held its toi-monthly meeting last Friday in a locality other than Queenstown. Many years ago. a strong move was made to hold the meetings of this body alternately at Queenstown and Anwtown, tout the weight of argument went against any departure from the usual custom. However - , limes and seasons change, and the decision to hold the »meating in- Pembroke (which may be tnily called the only county town in the territorygoverned toy the Council) must be regarded as- a wise one. Wanaka riding is an important integral part ofLake County. It embraces a large area and its interests are varied—agricultural, pastoral, Pruning amid scenic. For some time past matters of vital interest to the settlers have been •before the Council. ’Notwithstanding the strong representations made by Or. B overt, the member for the riding, in support; of the urgent requests made, it was felt that firsthand! knowledge p-n the part of all the Councillors was necessary 'inorder to weigh up the pros and cons of the problems confronting the settlers on the one hand and thei Council on the other*. It was also felt that a personal visit would afford the councillors a tetter idea of the configuration of toe riding. According to schedule laid down, the councillors-, -the clerk and inspector* and a press representative - left Queenstown at 7.30 on Monday evening. After a pleasant trip Pembroke was reached at about 10 p.m. It was a little unfortunate that darkness prevented a view of the surroundings on the latter portion ol the journey. The party were very comfortably quartered at toe Wanaka Hotel, and the popular host and hostess, Mr and. Mrs Linton Mann, with their proverbial hospitality, went out of their* way to make the stay of the councillors an enjoyable one. Next morning the councillors' were early astir. The objective was- an inspectional visit into the Matuk-i----tuki Valley. The sun shone brightly and everything pointed to a pleasant outing. The road skirts the foreshore of Wanaka lake and runs alongside the magnificent groves of trees on the border of Wanaka station. Leaving Mt. Roy on the left, the party scon came in sight of Glendhu Bay’ the gem of the Wanaka district, where the sun sparkled on the clear crystal waters of the lake, creating millions of diamonds-. Mr Willafs Scaife’is smiling homestead was then pastsed, the. road thereafter leading over* I Hospital Plat and on to the long stretch through the well-named Cattle Flat until Niger Hut is- reached, which is- the end of the road. Cattle Flat, which is leased by Mr D. C. Aubrey, a prominent settler, embraces many tliousaudis of acres of fertile country sheltered on both sides by‘ranges of snow-capped mountains. Over two thousand head of cattle and thousands of sheep and lambs were grazing on die flat and hill-sides on ;toe day the party pasised along on the lefthand .side of the, Cattle Flat road. Several beautiful waterfalls, principally the Leaping Burn and wellnamed Twin Falls, lent considerable interest to the trip, whilst the magnificent bush at the foot of mighty Mt. Aspiring, presented a magnificent spectacle. Luring the progress of the journey Chairman Lee and 1 his councillors halted several times to examine toe road, this being the main object of the- journey. In this relation it might be said that the road was found to be in fair order for the time of the year. However, it could toe readily seen that in order to make it tolerably passable tor the greater part of the year several of toe creeks required bridging and the road, needed gravelling in parts. The Matukituki river, which skirts the flat for its entire distance-, menaces the road at certain points. This is a problem which faces the. Council.

After viewing the magnificent landscape. at the end of the Valley the party commenced the leburn journey. A halt was made at the prettily situated and modern homestead of Mr and Mrs D. C. Aubrey, where the party were entertained at morning tea. Pembroke was. reached at noon. ;

The trip was a thoroughly educative one, and the knowledge gained should be of considerable value in the .future deliberations. It might also be said that the were warmly welcomed by the Wanaka people whenever personal contacts were made. The visit, moreover, must have helped to dispel any little dissatisfaction that may have existed in the riding notwithstanding the fact fact that it is represented by an energetic and zealous councillor in Mr Bovett.

The return journey to Queenstown wins commenced at 8 o’clock in the evening. ' The report of the Council, whic.li appears elsewhere, gives further particulars of the business affecting the Wanaka riding which was transacted. **