SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 83

SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND.

AN EMPIRE PLAYGROUND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, March 24. Leading journals in London and the provinces have given space to a letter written by Lord Grimthorpe from the Grand Hotel, Auckland. The visitor is so much impressed with the Dominion from a sportsman’s point of view that New Zealanders .will be interested to know, what he has written to the Home press. Lord Grimthorpe says: I notice that since Mr Amery’s mountaineering exploits m New Zealand Mr Punch is suggesting a campaign to “ ski Imperially ” —a waggish idea, of course, but one which may serve its purpose as it draws attention to the wonderful resources of the Empire in the realm of sport. New Zealand, in this respect, is far too little known, and I am sure that if more English sportsmen and/English people generally were acquainted with the thrills of deep-sea fishing they would gladly forgo Scotland and the Riviera, the Lido, even a season’s fox hunting'at Home, for a few thrilling days here in the Bay of Islands. It is, in my opinion, one of the most exciting sports in the world; experienced fishermen say that no other fishing, not even tarpon fishing in America, can compare with it. The season opens here in January—it is midsummer—and this offers a splendid opportunity to escape the winter at Home. The voyage, via the Canadian Pacific, Honolulu, and the South Sea Islands, takes just over a month, and the expense of the fishing is small. All tackle may be hired on the spot; a launch for a party costs four guineas a day; and the fact that a novice like myself had the luck to land the world’s “ record ” mako shark —a 630-pounder-—a few days ago on the first day out places this amazing sport within the reach of anyone who can afford the time and the journey. It- is hard to exaggerate the thrill and excitement of playing these monsters; sometimes they run out 300yds of line with lightning speed, then broach and leap two or three times, turning complete somersaults in the air; then after a long struggle they may get near the boat, only to repeat the process, and it may be three hours or more before they are safely landed. Since the coming of Mr Zane Grey more and more American sportsmen are visiting these -waters to fish for swordfish and shark, but nothing would please New Zealanders more than to welcome more sportsmen from Home. No doubt full details of the sport may be had from Sir James Parr’s office in the Strand; the object of these few lines is merelv to draw the attention of those who may be already planning their tours for next winter to the delights of a trip down through the South Seas to this wonderful little corner of the Empire.