DUKE IN ALPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22004, 10 January 1935, Page 11

DUKE IN ALPS

SCENES OF BEAUTY FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER SI'PEEB BUSH SETTING GLORIES OF BLUE ICE SMALL DOG'S ADVENTURE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL HEPORTERj WAIHO GORGE, Wednesday. True to the prognostications of the Government meteorologist the Franz Josef Glacier presented a glad face to the Duke of Gloucester to-day. The "dawn broke clear and bright and the Royal visitor awakened to the matins of tuis in the bush surrounding the Waiho Hotel, where the Graham brothers, in accordance with the mountaineering tradition, saw to the interests of every guest, no matter how humble his status. Before the sun was high dozens of nien equipped— with mountaineering boots and staffs were on their way to the glacier, "under the silver fern fronds climbing slow through cool green tunnels," every soul rejoicing in life at this delectable spot, where a glacier that looks like a giant cascade which has been suddenly frozen fills a valley and ends"only a few hundred feet above sea level.

Rata and Waterfalls

His Royal Highness had a number of magnificent views of the glacier and its superb setting of bush-clad hills as he \Vent up the track. Some cloud hung around the ridge tops, but for the most part the sky was clear. Words are inadequate to describe the glories of the blue ice with its ridges, pinnacle and crevasses all gleaming below bushy heights, down which, here and there, small waterfalls cascaded and fashioned a thousand exquisite fabrics of gossamar. and from which £he rata blossom blazed. Every soul was uplifted by this great gift of Nature. The weariness of fast travelling stole away, and, as a London journalist remarked. "The glory of God is poured forth in the ravine as well as in the firmament." A redpainted Moth aeroplane sailed twice over the glacier, though wind coalitions put a check upon this modern intrusion.

Notes of Bellbirds

Just as impressive in the air were the tuis, the bellbirds, and the rirt. riros, which sang a New Zealand chorus of welcome to the Duke, who obviously was delighted with all he gaAV and heard. Lven a lone kea came down from, the heights to join the feathered reception. He floated along the bush-clothed precipices, the bright colours beneath his wings harmonising with the. red of the rata flowers. At the hut not far from the terterriers, Digger and Sally, who had made a great venture of the threemile journey up the bush track, remained in charge of a man, who was rather concerned for Sally's safety when she jumped the barrier put across the doorway and went f°r a fierce battle against a collie pup that also had joined the party. But the pup was a gentleman who dpes not. fight with ladies, and he did his best to convince the bold little dog, which was valiantly determined to hold the fort. She refused his overtures to play. The pup was very perplexed about this .attitude, and Sally soon returned to the hut to keep a sharp eye upon the manner in which a billy of water was being boiled for tea.

DEPARTURE FOR TIMARU

PRINCE REJOINS TRAIN

AN ALL-NIGHT JOURNEY

£BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] ROSS, "Wednesday

The guests at the Glacier Hotel gave the Duke a hearty farewell as the cars of the Royal party started the 90-mile run along the scenic drive to Ross, where the party rejoined the R°>* a * train at eight o'clock to-night. The train, left'an hour later on its all-night trip through the Southern Alps to Timaru.