DOMINION'S WONDERLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18708, 14 May 1924, Page 12

DOMINION'S WONDERLAND.

" A MARVELLOUS VALLEY." PRAISE FOR , THE FISHING. " " i : . [from otrQ own ookrespondeht.] LONDON, March 20. ■ In .this week's Graphic several typical pictures of the Rotorua thermal district are reproduced, and some .Indication ~ is given of the wonders of this particular part of New. Zealand. "A marvellour valley,'' the writer concludes, "hissing/'rumbling, gurgling with ; all the terrors of the forces underneath j the ground. A marvellous valley—ver- ; dant with trees and grasses, tinted-with flowering sh'ru,bs. A marvellous valley hot and clammy, steamy, smelling of Nature's chemicals. A marvellous valley —with Ruapehu in the distance*—Ruapehu topped eternally with snow. And nearby, at Karapiti, there was a blow-hole that belched forth terrific clouds of steam. The local people said it was a safety valve. If that great hole were stopped, they believed the North . Island of New Zealand would then disappear." ! . Letters from fishing enthusiasts visiting New Zealand waters probably do more than anything to advertise the attractions of the trout streams and lakes of the Dominion. The Fishing • Gazette this' week publishes such a letter written to a well-known tackle dealer in this country. The visitor - tells of his sport'in Lakes Rotorua, Rotoiti, and Taupo. . "1., had ;c the good fortune to join two other enthusiasts who .have both had a long experience of the fishing here," the" j writer says, ''and wo used to take a launch ! and make for.Lake Rotoiti. . . . We had i in - all 13 outings on this lake, and took 550 fish, weighing 14cwt., > our largest being, 81b. . ; : "I had a week at Taupo. .Here the' fish reach an enormous size. Several over 201b. in weight were taken last year. They are harder to catch than up at Rotorua, but are ; much finer fish.- I : was ; somewhat early, ' but had 30 fish 1 weighing. 2181b., the largest --121b. My best morning's fishing on Taupo I had six fish, . weighing , 541b.' It; sounds incredible, but there it j is. The best j time to arrive is about , Christmas time { spend January and February on Rotoiti, and then V- "March and April at Taupo." '■ . | ' The correspondent explains / the neces- ! sary tackle and flies, and'gives other useful information. "There is a hew book," he finally adds, "a vast improvement on the one - I showed 2 you, being ? issued 'by the New Zealand Government, and I have ordered a copy."