MILFORD SOUND BEAUTIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18551, 8 November 1923, Page 10

MILFORD SOUND BEAUTIES.

EXPLORING NEW GROUND.

AN EXPEDITION ARRANGED There is every promise that the hitherto " great unknown " lying at the back of Milford Sound, will soon be made accessible to tourists. The Government is giving assistance in the matter of exploration, and soon a party will set out from Wellington in an endeavour to conquer, once and for all, this rugged, yet magnificent country. Mr. Samuel Turner, of Wellington, who will be at the head of this new exploration venture, gave some idea of the nature of the new country, and what was intended to be done.

" This newly discovered route from the head of Lake McKerrow to the Tutoko Valley snowfields, and higher glacial valleys, lakes, and passes, will," stated Mr. Turner, "be of benefit to the people of New* Zealand, and to the multitude of tourists from overseas who will eventually invade this prettiest spot in the country. "If you will look at the best map obtainable, you will see that the country from Milford Sound to Martin's Bay, and back inland to the head of Tutoko Valley is not represented, except Lake McKerrow. the . Hollyfordj River, one or two glaciers, and several streams. But last April my expedition discovered snowfields, valleys, small lakes, and, most important of all, one of the most beautiful alpine valleys in the world, which connects the head of the Tutoko Valley to the head of this valley. The Government made a grant, accepted my services as guide, and agreed that a survey party should go into this newly discovered country. It was found very difficult to get a suitable surveyor to undertake the journey, so the Government effort was postponed. A surveyor was lent to me by the Government some thre» years ago, but the country was too difficult for him to place on the map. " For my next expedition." continued Mr. Turner, " the Government has made a small grant toward a cincnui man. and I am taking an asakint with me who will help to take the pictures. It is time, I think, that we endeavoured to place some unique pictures on the .screen. We will take with us six pack horses, and there will be nine men in the party, two of whom are climbers. There is a big peak with its last 200 feet still unclimbed, and to surmount this will be one of the objects of the expedition. If we can only take a cinema picture of the climbing of this virgin peak, it will bo an accomplishment, for it is set amid the most beautiful scenery in the world."