STEWART ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 32

STEWART ISLAND.

CPaOU A COKBESPONDBNTj HALFMOON BAY, December 23. It would be casting a slur on tlie dead to say that the dead of winter produced ...anything more atrocious than the weather lately experienced. A few hours during the early part of the day on rare occasions is about • all the island has seen of the " Eaki-uru," or "ieavenly glows," -which gave it its Maori place-name. As a rule these exceptions did not extend beyond " high noon," and, as for the nigktshift, great guns and stoimfiends is about the best account that can be rendered- Monday last, inland waters, accustomed to the p'aciaity of the ' mirrored lake," boiled over into a seething caldron- Old and experienced residents say Paterson's Inlet has never before lashed itself into such fury, , and, as for the outside % ' world of waters," it was seen making clean breaches over the offshore skerries. Shipping disaster is the natural sequence, but so far as reports have come in nothing serious has occurred. A few craft set out for the cod-fishing on Sunday. They went in the direction of Port Adventure. They had ample fair weather to reach the fishing banks, where security against prevailing winds is to be had, so that no apprehensions are entertained on that, account. Landward, a number of New Zealand giant oaks are supposed to have been upset. That opinion is grounded mainly on the fact that along the bush tracks these upheavals have caused considerable obstruction. Beyond that nothing 'is known, so that, considering the fury of the storm, the island escaped lightly. It was a south-west by westerly gale, and had 'the velocity been computed into a pro■gress report I feel right sure high speed and a record race would nave been adduced. Rain set in at dark, and after raining heavily for an hour or so beyond midnight the storm lulled. Yesterday (Tuesday) was a fine weather day — not too bright, and the oftdef.ayed anticipation of seasonable weather is aaaiu on the tai?is»

Consequent upon the bad weather, the tourist season — now a most important enterprise of the place — has been very backward indeed. A few " summer swallows " have put in an appearance. The number, however, is insignificant compared with what it would have been had the weather conditions been more propitious. Saturday last the steamer from the Bluff ran the first of her extra summer trips. She carried a dozen of tourist and other passengers, whereas it is known some 40 of the former were deterred by bad weather. In her passage over the Foveaux Strait she had a good stiff cross-sea to contend against, and by the time she reached the bay her decks were pretty well watered. She got? in well up to time, so that, whatever her shortcomings may be as a tourist trafficker, she can breast Foveaux swells with a masterly rnein. Next week she runs three trips — Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. That, together with reduced fare 3, should be a big holiday draw for the island. There is a feeling abroad that the Tourist ■Department has done the island scant justice. The. p«ople speak with a show of reason when they say the island services is of more pressing importance than the Wakatipu, for instance, and that by right the one ought to have shared in the solicitudes shown for the other. That is a view of the case which ought to be taken cognisance of by the department. The Ministerial head represents the island in Parliament. He has promised to spend the holidays on the island. If that promise is made good he will get an opportunity of judging the force of the argument and the necessity for giving effect thereto. ' Yachting tours shapes fair to become an important factor in these seasonal pursuits. Anticipating the wants thereof, a variety of commodious oil-engined craft have been added to the island fleet. These craft, with " sleeping accommodation" for say, 20, can be chartered for 40s to 50s per day. With anything like weather, one week is sufficient io "do " the round of the islaaid, affording reasonable opportunity for visiting inlets, insets, etc., en route. There is abundance of absolutely safe berthing places, so that no craft need riot be ".caught on the hop" overnight. JFor shortdistance tourists limited as to time, etc., these trips are most magnificent. The scenery and seascape is superb, and the historicai romance connected with every island and inlet thrilling. The entire round involves only a very limited extent of outside sailing, the remainder Wng done . amidst island clxtsters, leafy deLs, waterways and their arcades, well sheltered from the ocean swells. The rata is beginning to burst cut into b.oom. A* few weeks' good weather would bring it out in perfection. It is beginning to draw the kakas out on to the seaboard. The few that have been captured ame reported as being in very fair condition. A ,few weeks hence and there will be great sport in that line. In consequence of the weather the fishing of late has been attended with poor resxilts. It is hoped, however, that drawback is now " on the mend." The sawmills have been doing a full stroke of business. Work for the holidays will be stopped on Friday, so as to allow hands the opportunity of leaving by Saturdays steamer. The Maoris are busily employed preparing for the mutton bird season, which opens in a month or six weeks. Last year produced -but a poor resiilt. The 'prospects for the coming season are understood to be mo-re assuring. Tie want of a, post offioe at wh*t i» known as the " Neck " is much complained' of. A postal service has been established at % cost of £80 per annum. Being a scattered community, the waait of someone duly authorised to receive and distribute the mails is the cause of "the complaints. Under* the agreement for the purchase of the island a sum of money was set aside for • Native— purposes. Amongst ■ others, medicine 'was to be provided for the sick. During the past six months the medicine chest has been empty, and no attention has been paid to repeated applications for replenishment. Seeing tli* Natives are only asking their own, this neglect is unpardonab'.e. The ragweed plant has made its appearance at the Neck, and uailess checked it will overrun the place, and its eradication be rendered impossible.