OTAGO SCENERY AND MR T. MACKENZIE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 89

OTAGO SCENERY AND MR T. MACKENZIE.

(By A Visitoe to Dinedix) I am at present a i isitor fiom ii-o North Island, and take; a. keen intciest in Olagc, in the salubrity of the ohmu.e of its interior; but still more in us scenci\, which may be regarded a-s bfino piobahlv equal to am found elseuhcie on the surface of our planet. The \aluo of thi<s mao-ivficent scenery is greater thai 1 i- conoialh ical'sed. No one in New Zealand has done so much in the direction of exploring and throwinn; open to the general public 1 his tuperb scenery as Mr Thomas Mackenzie. M.P. I His splendid phj-^ique and perfer\id enthusiasm h3\e enabled him to explore and call public- attention to the beautiful and majestic scenery : and fcr his ser\ices in this, direction he is well worthy of the titanic and gratitude of the people of New Zealand. But I ha\e recently noticed a letter in your correspondence columns which appears to me to be mtfaT to Mr Mackenzie, as it suge;e->ti that he i« open to »>u-pic:on of '' bias."' and that his efforts and SMiipathips do not embrace a. suflicientlv wide field. That the-e su c picions arc cironoous finds conclusive proof in the fol- ' lowing cl'ppmg fiom the Ljttelton Times ! of Januar\ 23 ] '' T lrere is probably i.o one boitor entitled to «peak with ai'ihority conccrnine; the Southern National Paik. the lake and fiord country of western Otac>o, than Mr Thomai Mackenzie. M.P. ITp approaclir =; j the siibiCct with a wliole-sorlcrt enthusiasm, tempored by widp knowledge, knowledge gained ai fit -t hand dunnp: a highly creditable career as explorer of the wJd aJid lomantic recions dear to hi> heart. A chance mcptn>s; v, ith Mr Mackenzie on , T..ako Wakatmu ?ave a member of tho Lyttelton Time= staff an opportunity of getting his views in resrard to the development of what is usually st\ led the Cold Lakes district. He promptly and cheerfully agreed to make them public through the medium of the Lyitelton Times, and they will be of considerable interest to the people of Cantrbury, ajnong whom the southern lakes and the beautiful country

i popular as a holiday resort." I slr Mackenzie's interview with the representative of the press was of a, most iriere=ting- character, and showed that his sympathies covered a much wider field than that attributed to him by tout correspondent. Indoed, I am aware that Mr

Mackenzie lakes a keen interest even in the scenery of the North Island a,s well — indeed, he might say with the great Maori warrior chief of old. '' New Zealand is ours; I love it." We have not at present in our public life any man who takes a .. broader view of all our national affairs than Mr Mackenzie, and upon sufficient inspection th a will Lo found to apply to his commendable efforts to brine: our noblo scenery within the reach of Xeu Zealand.