VISIT TO THE HERMITAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18686, 16 October 1922, Page 8

VISIT TO THE HERMITAGE

MOUNT COOK MOTOit COMPANY'S ENTERPRISE. POPULARISING THE RESORT. A NOVEL UNDERTAKING. (Feom Our Own Correspondent.) THE HERMITAGE, October 15. It was a happy thouglit on tho part of the Mount Cook Motor Company which led it- to organise a large week-end excursion to Ih c Hermitage. This well-equipped tourist establishment has just been taken over by the company from tho Government. The manager (Mr A. L. Wigley) intends to rednce the accommodation charges, and (o provido improved facilities tor the entertainment of guests, and in a, variety of ways to make tho resort, which possesses commanding scem'c. attractions, a lodestar and a veritable holiday-maker's paradise for tourists from New Zealand as well ns from other countries. As a first step towards the attainment of this object tho -week-end excursion idea was put into operation, and last evening a widely representative gathering of about ICO persons arrived at The Hermitage, where they were entertained at. dinner as the guests of the company. Tho major portion of this largo party -was transported to Tho Hermitage front Timaru in three of the company's big touring cars, and 10 or 12 private cars and taxis. From tho very beginning everyone entered whole-heartedly into the picnio spirit of tho outinar. and the party soon becamo a happy family, the members of which wiil long recall the excursion as an altogether delightful experience. PICTURESQUE MOTOR TRIP. Tho distance from Timaru to Tho Hermitngo is a matter of 132 miles, a largo undertaking in the days of horse transport, but a much more simnlo affair in these days of modern motor traffic. Nevertheless it is the best part of a day's journey. The start was timed for,B a.m., tho small procession of cars moving off from the company's Timaru office shortly after that hour. For those who had not been over the ground beforo the trip was n source of continued delight and sustained interest. The morning was beautifully fine and clear, and the first forty miles to Fairlip. through smiling rural country, was an admirable introduction to the constantly changing panorama that was to follow. After leaving Fairlie the ears commenced to rise tin to Burke's Pass, which opens upon tho Mackenzie riainsi—a broad area of level country surrounded bv an amphitheatre of brown and yellow hills in the foreground, with the snow-capped peaks of the'Alps shining white against the skyline. Crossing another ridge the waters of Lake Tokapo, which are of the most delicate turquoise blue, come suddenly into view, with the Tekapo River flowing out in a long blue ribbon of glacier-fed water. A halt was made for lunch at the Tekapo Hotel, and the journey was resumed to Pukaki, where afternoon tea -was enjoyed. Then came __ the last _ and most interesting stage" of the journey. From Pukaki House tho road skirts the shores of the lake. undulating oyer shoulders of high hills, and dropping again to water level. When the heights seemrd to tower overhead, and the icebound slopes of the Jnountains seemed but a stone's throw distant, the red reefs of The Hermitage came into view, and a quarter of an hour later the party was at its destination, and, with the greatest despatch, was being quartered for the night. Over this, latter part of the journey the cars ran into mistv rain, and the mountains were viewed in a fog, thus shutting out from view much of the grandeur of the scenery. The delightful views of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, which are obtainable from Pukaki in clear weather, and which aro one of the chief delights of tho tour, were, therefore, not; obtainable, but ample compensation was found in the scenerv nearer at hand, and in the spectacle of drifting snowstorms floating across_ the gorges, covering the mountain slopes in a mantle of purest whiteness. Although denied a sight of the highest mountain in New Zealand the, party was not disappointed, and members were hopeful—a hope that was amply justified—that visibility conditions would imnrove on tho morrow. Notable features of the trip were the generally satisfactory state of the roads, the fine running of the large cars, and the complete arrangements made' for the welfare of the travellers at every stage of the journey. As an instance of Mr Wigley s thoroughness, it may be mentioned that he had made special arrangements for the installation of a telegraph instrument at the Hermitage in order that press matter might bo despatched during Sunday. The Mount Cook Company has a fleet of large cars, each capable of seating 15 passengers. It runs popular services from Timaru to Iho Hermitage, from The Hermitage to Queenstown, and from Queenstown to Pembroke. Everything possible is done: for the comfort and convenience of tho company s passengers, and once they leave tho train they can commit themselves to its care with an assured confidence that they will reach their •destination in perfect safety, and with all possible despatch. . . The parliamentary party, consisting ot the Hon. E. P. Lee and Mrs Lee. Mr T. D. Burnett, and Mr and Mrs J. Bitchener. left Well in Eton on Friday evening, and arrived at The Hermitage after a remarkably quick journey of a little less than 24 hours. On arriving at The Hcrmi ago they found the other visitors already there, the journey having been made oyer excellent roads by many motor cars without mishap. Parliamentarians, as well as the first party, were welcomed by the Faivhe Pipe Band and the assembled guests gave three cheers for the Minister and the two members.

THE INAUGURAL DINNER. At 8 p.m. 100 guests sat clown to Hie inaugural dinner arranged by the company to mark the occasion of its taking over the control and management ot ihe Hermitage. Among those present were Mr liodward, assistant general manager ot the Bank ' of Australasia, in' London, who is on a visit to New Zealand, representatives of the Tourist Department, and of the leading South Island newspapers. \fr T D. Burnett, M.P., presided, and in behalf of the Mount Conk Motor Company he extended a hearty welcome to the’guests to highlands of the Mackenzies, Alter the loyal toast had b-cn honoured, the Chairman .read a large number of apologies, including those from the Prime Minister, the Hons. W. Noswortliy, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, G. J. Anderson. J. G Coates, C, J. Parr, W. Dowme Stewart, Sir William Eraser, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir John Findlay, and Sir William Hnll-Jones. Continuing. Mr Burnett proposed the health of the Minister of Justice. Mr Lee, he said, was a lover of- the Alps, and a climbing enthusiast. Twenty-nine years ago he made his first visit to The Hermitage. It was a compliment, to the gathering that an important, member of the Cabinet should visit them in the dying hours of a Parliament, though not ot a Government. It was a very great compliment to the company, whose guests they wore, that' so busy’a man as Mr 'Leo, and so many others, had been able to attend that gathering, and he was sure it. was a' good augury for the success of the company in taking over The Hermitage that Mr Leo was so deeply interested in its The speaker stressed the importance of making the resort a, popular one with our own people, and said he felt that in view of the moderate charges which would be the order of things for the next, live years at any rate The Hermitage would prove one of the most extensively-patron-ised holiday places in the dominion. The roast was received with musical honours. . The Hon. E. P. Leo contrasted Ihe old methods of getting to The Hermitage and the new method. In days past, he tried various methods of gelling to The Hermitage, and on one occasion lie and two ladies had travelled to Ihe old Hermitage on push bikes. Now he bad been able to leach The Hermitage in comfort in 24 hours from Wellington. Mr Lee spoke interestingly of the sport ot Alpine climbing, and expressed the hope that it would ho encouraged in New Zealand, Ho said that The Hermitage, although not a paying concern, was nevertheless an important asset to New Zealand; therefore the loss was not so great as might, appear from the actual figures. Ho advocated further improvements in the direction of making some of the more important, and interesting climbs shorter, by tho buildim- of more huts. At present, for many people, these climes were too long and too strenuous. For instance, there should be a better hut at Malta Brim. A hut was required at the foot of Dc La Beche for those going over Graham’s saddle. A high hut was needed for the Mount Cook climb from the Hooker Glacier. This would enable climbers to spend a night in comparative comfort, instead of rushing over a route, as they had to do at present. Huts should also be erected for the climb of the Nun’s Veil, and Mount Chuoligh. He complimented Mr Wigley on his enterprise and his, desire to push Tho Hermitage forward. Mr Wigley was entitled to tnoir support and he wished the company every success.—(Applause.) C’aptnin Macdonald proposed the toast of tho Tourist Department, emphasising its value as a revenue-earning department, and

briefly indicating how it might be greatly fostered with the assistance of various development leagues at present m existence in all parts of (ho country. Mr B. M. Wilson (manager of the Government; Tourist Department) briefly replied/promising the utmost assistance to the Aiouiil, Look Motor Co., and saying ho felt it would bo rewarded with the success which it deserved.

Mr T. IT Burnet 1. M.P., in . a most delightful and interesting speech, in winch he sketched the history of the Mackenzie Country for the past 60 years, proposed success to thn Mount Cook Motor Co. MR WIGLETS SPEECH.

Mr Wigley, in responding, said that the company had been trying to lake Hie Hermitage over since 1908. The Government, he said, could not run such an institution as well as a private company could, because it had lo stick to hard and fast rules. A Government could not alter its tanfl. IBs company would alter all that and would cater for all classes. He admitted they had a big hurdle to clear, but ho thought they could do it. Their main object wou d be to please the public. His idea was that his company had not only to pay a di'ideiid, but to uphold one of New Zealand s best assets. They wanted to get everyone there —the poor man as well as the wealthy man. There would be differential rates from rooms in The Hermitage lo tents m the open. In the meantime there would be the one table. There would also be differential rates for families —a concession of 20 per cent., while there would also bo coricessions for those who stayed four weeks or longer. The company also intended to keep The Hermitage open during the winter months, because while the weather was cold, the cold was not felt nearly so heavily as it was on the coast, by reason of the bracing air and rarer atmosphere. Next winter, therefore, they were going lo make a reduction of 50 per cent, in fares, not designing to make a profit during that, season, but to encourage people to visit The Hermitage. If they could get the crowd they could reduce fares below £5 return. Camping parties would be catered f° r > Because there were people who could not afford the high tariff of a hotel. They could cater for those at £5 a head for a fortnight at The Hermitage, including the fare to ana from Timaru, and the company would carry tlie stores, blankets, etc., of the campers. They also intended to run a store at The Hermitage at a very reasonable price. A narty of 10 or 20 would receive further concessions. He had still a little failing for the aeroplane (laughter),- and he hoped vet to do something in that direction. Shortly they would have a billiard table, lawn tennis courts, and possibly golf links. —(Applause.) Other toasts honoured during the evening wore —“Members of Parliament, ’ proposed by Mr J. P. Murphy, and replied to by Mr J. Bitchencr, M.T. “Our Guests, proposed by Mr W. D. Royell, and responded to by Messrs GoclwardaiKl J. slow; “The Press,” proposed by Mr Roderick MacKenzie, and replied to by Messrs Malcolm Ross and W. F. Alexander. Mr Ross, in the course of his remarks, complimented the Mount Cook Company on securing ns manager of The Hermitage Mr J. J. Waas, whom ho had known on Gallipoli and the Western Frontier, where his work was highly spoken of by generals and other prominent officers. Ho thought the decision of the Government place The Hermitage in the hands of private enterprise was a step in the right direction, and suggested that the principle might be applied to that other scenic asset, the Tongariro National Park in the North Island. , A BEAUI'IFUL SIGHT. THE HERMITAGE, October 15. During last night the storm, which had proved an unpleasant accompaniment to the closing stages of yesterday’s journey, cleared away, and when morning -dawned with a cloudless sky, the great mountains stood out against the blue in all their glory of gleaming silver, their beauty enhanced a hundredfold by a mantle of newly-fallen snow. The unsurpassable view of Mount Cook, La Perouse, the Footstool, and Mount Sefton from The Hermitage verandah could not have been seen to better advantage. The day, which was gloriously fine, with a warm sun and not a breath of wind, was spent in short excursions in the vicinity of the Hermitage, a number of the party intending to go further afield tomorrow.