TOURIST ROUTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20389, 21 April 1928, Page 26

TOURIST ROUTES.

TO TUE EDITOR. SiH.-I road with interest the report ol yesterday in regard to tho ; desire of the Uuuediu Chamber ol Commerce to boost Uio province. In Uie past several articles Rave been contributed on this same subject and allegations have been made front var.ous sources, the Tourist Department and the Union Steam Ship Company re cciviug moio than a fair snare of adverse criticism lor the lack of tourist traffic in the south. The Tourist Department has shewn that the fault does not lie with h, a fair share of its bookings having been allocated to the south. r lhe fact that, ’t has been able to do this speaks volumes for this office, in view; of the bettor facilities ottering for tourist travelling in the North Island. A lot of time and energy have been spent in dcahng with this subject, but to my mind concentration should bo made - m a different direction than what has been attempted in the past. The rc-establish-ment of a weekly steamer service between Melbourne and Bluff is, ot course,. most essential. The greatest drawback wo hfiye in the south, however, is-tho lack of facilities for a comprehensive round trip.- If,all tho public bodies interested would cOncjonirate in the completion of the proposed road between Waiho and NY a n aka, bv urging the Government to commence this won at an early date, thereby connectin'};, most of tho important scenic resorts in the Sopih Island, viz, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Mount Cook, and the Groat.- Southern Lakes wo would have an enormous increase in our tourist traffic. At the present time people from Christchurch to Waiho have to retrace their steps to Christchurch in order to reach Otago and Southland, this taking a lot of unnecessary time and money, which is in many cases fcho cause of tourists being unable to coma further south. At. tho present time this route is provided with a bridle track; only. The.'c are many people in Dunedin who have completed this tour on horseback. Tho writer has also known a, number of 'over sea tourists, who havo been fortunate enough to complete this most wonderful five days’ horseback trip, and all speak in glowing terms of the magnificent scenery cn route.

In conversation with Mr Erio James, tho proprietor of tho White Star horse service between Waiho and Wanaka, lio stated that motor cars have already been able to negotiate the track for as far as 50 miles - south of .Waiho. From there on to the Haast River are many good stretches of road already suitable for motor traffic, while in the vicinity of Haast and Okuru, thence on to Clarke Hut and Burke Hut, several very Guo stretches of road are met with. There is- already a traffic bridge over tho Wills River, between BUrko Hut and tho Haast saddle, which has been there for many years, but is approached by a narrow pack horse track. From the head of Lake Wanaka there is a good motor road to within a few miles of Haast Saddle. It would seem, therefore, that if attention -wag concentrated on the subject of this reading scheme it would not bo nearly so costly* as some predict. A tar sealed road is not necessary. What is needed is the widening of tho track at its narrowest stages in order to connect up various stretches -of good roall so that it would at least 'bo possible for a cat to get through, even if under trying conditions. The rest would como in time, as the road would improve year by year. This would ultimately become the most popular tour of the Dominion, as people from tho North Island would arrive at Nelson, go right through Duller, Franz Josef, on through tho Haast to the Great Southern Lakes, returning by rail from Invercargill to Christchurch, and thence on to Blenheim if necessary, thereby completing a circuitous tour of tfip whole of the South Island, embracing all, the most important scenic attractions of which we are so proud. This tour could then be done in a very short time, and at a very reasonable cost. Tho fact of being able to view these beauty spots without having to cover the same ground - twice would appeal to the tourist.- It is known that the Government, is interested in th - a scheme, but it is also interested in other similar reading schemes. If tho Government is contemplating tho construction of motor touring roads in the Dominion, then there is no better proposition than tho linking up of Otago and Southland with Westland. It is “up to ” Otago to push in right here and now, otherwise •'the bus will be missed.” Tho increasing traffic. which would come tho way of Otago and Southland would be simply enormous. Tho Otago Expansion League shelved this scheme some six months ago for some unknown reason, just at tho tune when ;t had the backing of practically every public body from Auckland to Bluff. Tho Auckland Tourist League has been advocating this schonio for somo time, so surely we in Otago should put somo ginger into this movement and finalise .what is often referred to as “ Seddon’s Dream.”

Die completion of this toad .would make it possible, for , pur Tourist Department to book oversea tourists over four different circuitousfours, embracing the South Island resorts, none of which Would entail travelling over the same route twice. The proposed hydro electric scheme (HaweaWanaka) is another reason why this road should fee commenced at an early date. Too settlers at Maharora and Okuru have been patiently waiting for this reading scheme for many years, and it is the duty of us city folk to do our best to assist those settlers by bringing (hem into reasonable communication with tho markets.—l am. etc.-. - Otaco Fihst. Dunedin. April IS.

—The value of Kenya’s coffee crop shows a 20 per cent, increase over that of 1926, and tire industry is steadily advancing, according to tho acting director of agriculture of the colony.