NORTH-WESTERN OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21163, 22 October 1930, Page 12

NORTH-WESTERN OTAGO.

LECTURE BY m ERIC JAMES. An extremely interesting lecture, fully illustrated with lantern elides, was given at the Returned Soldiers’ Association rooms last night by Mr Eric James, whose subject was a trip over several portions of North-west Otago. There was a large attendance. The president of the association (Mr J. S. Skinner), in introducing the speaker, referred to the lecture given by Mr James last year, and explained that his present talk concerned a three months’ trip into the western part of Otago. He extended a welcome to the lecturer. ( Mr James said that a great deal of the country he was going to speak about was very little known. His last trip had been made with the object of dis-

covering an overland route from Milford Sound to the Hollyford track, and so to Lake Wakatipu. He had been accompanied by two photographers on the greater portion of his journey, and he had a large collection of new and interesting slides with which he would illustrate his talk Several views of Lake Wanaka were first shown, and Mr James described the new road which is now being made around the lake. In places, he said, it resembled the Swiss alpine roads in many respects. Scenes on the many rivers flowing into the Makarora Valley were shown, the lecturer explaining that they were all easily accessible and all provided good fishing. The route followed lay over the Haast Pass, which was discovered in 1863 by Charles Cameron, and many difficulties had been encountered on different trips he had made over this track The rivers had to be crossed very frequently, and many of the crossings were dangerous. On this part of the trip some excellent snow scenes had been photographed, among them some good views of Mount Hooker, which was climbed for the first and only time about three years ago by Mr Samuel Turner. Mount Macfarlane was also shown, the lecturer remarking that it had yet to be climbed.

There were numerous waterfalls to be seen on the route, said Mr James, The track eventually led down to the coastal plains, which were 10 to 15 miles wide in places. On these white pine grew in profusion. Nine miles south of the Haast Eiver was Okura, a tidal stream, flowing out to the sea where the township of Okura stands. On the Hapuka River there was a small whitebait canning factory and also a small dairy factory. Trout were to be found in abundance, fish up to 18 and 20 pounds having bceu landed. The next stream encountered was the Aroha, which reached the sea at Jackson’s Bay. There had once been a fairly large settlement at this point, consisting principally of German Poles, but owing to the poverty of the land it was now deserted and there was little trace of its existence.

The Red Mountains and Cascade Valley districts were next dealt with, the views of the brick-red hills being especially interesting. The Cascade Valley was wide with plenty o f rich, loamy soil, and it was bordered on one side by the Cascade Plateau, at the coastal end of which large numbers of seals were seen. It had, however, not been possible to photograph them. The speaker expressed the opinion that, in all probability, the Cascade Plateau would afford excellent grazing for sheep. On the boundary of Otago and Southland was the Ararua River, near which many greenstone curios had been found, as well as other traces of the existence of Maoris there at some period in the past. The journey up to Martin's Bay was next described, several scenes on the Hollyford River and Lake M'Kcrrow being shown. These waters also offered excellent sport to the angler and were not very hard to reach, being within three or four days’ travel of Wakatipn. From Martin’s Bay, Mr James commenced to travel inland, following a ridge until he saw, in the distance, two small lakes. He explored these and then continued down a river valley, which he found to be the John o’ Groats, to the sea. Ho then followed the coast down to Milford Sound. This trip was a very arduous one, and the lecturer stated that his boots were completely worn out and walking was ver. difficult for the great nart of the journey home. From Milford he again followed the coast north, cross'ng the John o’ Groats with difficulty and continuing to Yates Point, where he f n 'ind a penguin rookery. Many very good scenes on the various streams and mountains encountered were shown, and the last portion of the trip was easily followed on a sketch map which was thrown on the screen. At the conclusion of the lecture Mr James was thanked for his interesting address.