THE ALPS BY MOONLIGHT

Northern Advocate, 21 March 1934, Page 2

THE ALPS BY MOONLIGHT

(By William Croft, Park Street, Hikuraugi.) I

It had been my one and only wish that after seven months hard labour I should visit the place I had ever longed to see—the magnificent Southern Alps. Arriving from Christchurch by rail to the nearest station I decided to motor by taxi to the Hermitage. It was a cold winter's night and there had been a heavy downfall of snow. The moon lifted up above the distant mountain, casting its silver radiance on the once fertile valley below. The dark forbidding forest swayed with the sighing wind. The river glittering in the pale moonlight, looked up at the pale sky. At the Hermitage we caught a full view of the scene we had come many miles to see—the beautiful. Southern Alps. We were amazed at the wonderful sight which revealed itself to us. Surely that long range of snow-capped peaks is unrivalled by any other range of mountains in the world. Taking my baggage in and paying the sleepy taxi-driver I stood for a minute looking at the scene. With the moon sinking below the trees thus blotting out my Avonderful picturs I walked inside to enjoy a. cup of coffee and afterwards a Avarm bed. If you should visit the Southern Alps, view them by moonlight—it is then that they are seen best in their lofty splendour. —Original.