OUR SCENIC RESORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14439, 4 February 1909, Page 5

OUR SCENIC RESORTS.

I fox. MR MACKENZIE'S IMPRESSIONS, (From Our. Own Cob respondent.) INVEI'.CAIUULI,, February 3. The Hon. T. Mackenzie arrived in Invetwgill this morning, having ccme overland Irom Milford to Mana.pouri and down the A alley. Speaking of his impressions of the trip to a reporter he said. "I found the trip down the Waiau a very interesting one. 1 tool; careful note of the state of the route, and saw that with expenditure at certain places it would bo pos.-ible to accelerate very much the means of travel and connnunietion. 1 think the whole future of the tourist resorts of that part of the country largely depends upon being able to get people quickly to the most interesting phuts, and also, if possible. t.-> lessen tli!' cost to travellers. 'I'llo trip up the Waiiin Valley and round via Luuisden would make a most interesting all-round route. 111 ore is need on the Waiau road °f » I>"V over the White. Mono at Wairaki and of another at Home creek to connect with the Lumsden-Te Amut road. Just now the Lumsden road to Te Anau is preferable to the Waiau road, baing shorter l>y about 12 miles and a ra,flier better road; but if a bridge -wore built- at Wairaki, and if the County Council were to form the road alon.g the oast .vide of tirassy creek, and so avoid a number of crowing*, there would be a possibility of accelerating very nntcli liie journey over the, Otautau Lakes road, and from a visitor's point, of view there is no stretch of country that would Ik found more interesting than that seen on t'he way from OUuttau to Lake lianal«'iiri. There a vo long expanses of agricultural and pastoral country and endless variety of mountain. Jake, and forest welie.n. 1 .should J'ikc very much to spend a wet* in and around' the Waiau Valley and the lata beyond, and also in inspecting the. ewes at''the mouth. I had a conversation this morning with Mr Thomson, member for Wallace, who pointed out to ine many very interesting places that could be mad-e accessible at small cost. I shall ««o with Mr Tliomson to set some of those places when I come down again.

(lonerally speaking, I think there is a great, deal of useful work possible ill that country, and the .scenery certainly should he made more easy of access' to the, people. At piesent it can be enjoyed only l>y the leisured or the Tretl-to-do, who may bo moderately strong physically. / ha . ( ' wgl't in its way, but we wai'it O let hose also who are less leisured, Jew wt,| t„ do, ami less strong have a enanee of seeing the iglorious scenery that tms country posses. 1 |,ave in ,„ v minds eye seveial proposals, which I sh.ivl submit to the consideration of Sir ai"'M i" .'" K ' l " e ' . ac ' :en >iie spoke in terms of hiirh appreciation of the kindness shown Irmt • l ,w> l'. le lie met along the route mentioning as amongst those who had nm-«"\ Sl>eL ' ,al filvom ' s - Ml ' Audrey of lied cliff, Mr Donkin, of Iflackinounf," and Mr Saunders ami Mr O'Brien, of Otautau.