THE GRAND TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 10

THE GRAND TOUR.

TO Ttys EDITOR. .Sir, —In your of to-dav appears a brief account of Colonel Macßobin's J rip to Lake Harris Saddle and of liis impressions of the grandeur of the alpine seenpry in that locality. .The -perusal. of tho article induces ino to offer a suggestion. The idea has been in my iniiul for some time. The. trip that- is now most favoured by tourists is from Dunedin via Te Anau to Sutherland Falls, or Milford, and back again over exactly the same route. For several years past the Tourist Department has bcqn eonsideiing' the propriety of having' a steam launch _ in one of the western sounds for conveying tourists about. My suggestion is that the Tourist Department arrange an entirely new plan whereby visitors might- see all that is grandest, and avoid going over a single yard of country twice. The plan would bo from Dunediu to Quecnstown, then' over the ground recently travelled by Colonel Macltobin to Lake Harris, ami down the Ilollyford Hirer, visiting en route that lovely lake—Alabastof—on Pyko River, the High and Hidden Falls, and on Via Lake JlaeKerrow to Martin's Pay, which is 16 miles from Milford. On nine days out of 10 a steam launch could' cross tho bar, and if tho rock in the centre of the river wore blown out she could cross in any ordinary weather. The trip could be made to Milford in a couple of hours, and tourists could traverse new country.' The return journey could include all the grandeur of Milford, 'Lake Ada, Sutherland Falls, the Clinton Valley, Tc Anau, and Manapouri. I feel -persuaded that such a tour Would attract thousands of visitors, and would also assist in the development of ' Otago's best piece of west coast country. Tho settlors there cnuld supply all the fresh meat iin.'l provisions necessary for tho great traffic that is sure to be established on our glorious western wilds.—l am, etc., Thomas M.^kkn'zi.i:,