STEAMER ACCOMODATION ON LAKES TE ANAU AND MANAPOURI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 55

STEAMER ACCOMODATION ON LAKES TE ANAU AND MANAPOURI.

During the past two seasons many complaints have been made by tourists regarding the very poor steamboat accommodation to be met with upon our premier southern lakes, Te Anau and Manapouri. That these complainta have not been made without cause there is no reason to doubt. The stea.iners on the lakes referred to are quite inadequate for the lately increased traffic during the tourist season, and neither of the boate-are adapted for their requirements, both having seen their palmy days long. past. Tho Bteamer upon Lake Te Anau is the larger and, if anything, the faster of the two, but her complement of adult passengers, exclusive of luggage, is limited to .25, with a speed of seven or eight miles an hour at best, whilst the boat upon Lake Manapouri has considerably less accommodation. Under those circumstances it is nob surprising that tourists have room for complaint. The reason that better means "of transit on these lakes have not been provided before now is not far to find. The exceedingly brief season, along with the fact that nearly all the visitors arrive simultaneously, have been the cause of cramping the resources of the present caterers, as up to the last season but little inducement has been offered to speculate in increased accommodation. The following details will furnish some idea of the tourißt traffic to theee lakes : — During the season 1895-96 (thft best season up to that date) there were in all 122 tourists, the first of these arriving November 23 and the last March 24- — only five, however, before Christmas, whilst 70 of the entire number visited the lakes between Christmas and the end of January, thus taxing the accommodation to the utmost during the first month of the year. From March until November 18 there was not a single visitor to Lake Te Anau. From the latter date until 31sb May, 1897, there , have been 184- tourists, an increase of over 50 per cent, above the previous season, showing a' so an extraordinary prolongation of the tourist season. In all previous years a visitor after the month of March to the lake district wa3 regarded as a ram avis. This season's returns, however, show that no fewer than 23 tourists have sojournsd at Lake Te Anau daring the months, of April and May. It will be seen from the above statement that the total traffic up to this yew; would hardly have justified the provision of much larger steamers. Now that the promise of belter things to come in the shape cf an increased number of visitors aad iv longer season seems brighter, tho necessity of providing more efficient steamers for there lalrcs becomes urgent, and it is with pleasure we cia record that that necessity will bo isupplied, to Te Anau at least, before next season, and tourists will have every facility provided for them, so that the world-famed beauties of that lake may be fully seen. Mr Alex. S. Patersou, in conjunction with Me Wm. Snodgrasa, of the Te Anau Hotel, will next week commence the construction of * steamer which will in every way supply the requirements of the service. The details of the plans, &c, are being completed aud will include all the latest improvements. Messrs Dore and Sheppard, of Manapouri, are also about to build a new steamer — tome particulars of which have already been, made public — by means of whioh they propose to connect the two lake 3. Whether this proposition can successfully be carried out remains to be seen, bub the knowledge that there will be a better steamer service upon both lakes will be very acceptable to the travelling public.