What Are They Doing With It?

Southland Times, Issue 133357, 20 January 1896, Page 4

What Are They Doing With It?

Recently the Government-, in its overweening desjre to meddle with everything, acquired the Hermitage — the building which is the hospice of those who visit Mount Cook and its wonders— at a "pretty tidy figure" and announced that they intended to " run" the accommodation house themselves. There were those who murmured that the transaction might have been concluded in order to relieve the company who owned the Hermitage of an unremunerative investment at the country's expense. However that may be it is evident from the following, taken from the Christchurch Press, that the influx of tourists who are to make us wealthy without work is not likely to be phenomenal if the Government continue to conduct their house on the lines depicted by a Victorian visitor. The Press Bays : —

It has often been urged— and most truly, too — that in our magnificent wealth of fiord, Alpine and lake scenery New Zealand has an asset which is of incalculable value. That this is so is amply proved by the large number of tourists, increasing every year, who come to us from sun-baked Australia to recuperate in the more genial and bracing climate of New Zealand. In view of this, it is certainly the duty of the Government to facilitate, as far as possible, the access to the different show places of the colony by the makiDg of roads, etc., and in such places as Mount Cook, where the Government have taken over the Hermitage, to see that proper provision is made for the comfort and convenience of travellers. That this is not done will be seen from an interview between a member of the staff of the Press and Dr Mclnerney, LLD.,of Melbourne. As, in view of the very great heat prevailing in Australia, we may have a large number of tourists coming over to view the wonders of our Alpine region, it will be well for the Government to take some steps to alter the state of thiDga complained of. " Seeing from a Government advertisement," said Dr. Mclnerney, " That the Hermitage at Mount Cook was open for the reception of tourists I made up my mind that my 1895-6 summer vacation should be spent amongst the wonderful glacier region of Mount Cook. A sun baked Anstralian, I had never seen a glacier or an ice mountain at all. Last year I went through the wonders of the Hot Lakes district, but this time I determined to have a change, and I revelled amidst the heat of Melbourne in the anticipation of a week or so in the ice regions. Accordingly, relying on the faith of the notification, and expecting to find it verified, I set out from Melbourne, and coming by way of Dunedin reached Fairlie Creek, and thence after the experience of a thorough, right down tropical shower of rain, reached the Hermitage, a somewhat dilapidated-looking place with the rain coming into the dining room and the bedroom 5 . I wanted a guMe to go on to the Mueller Glacier ai I had no experience of ice, but found that Mr Adamson could only give me a little time after he had milked the cows and performed other duties. I expected to find that ihe Government would have had guides ready to be engaged, equipped with ice axes, ropes, snow shoes, etc. But there was nothing of the sort ; not even a bit of rope about the premises. After waiting some time Mr Adainson came with me, and we went on to the Mueller Glacier. We were away EOtne seven hours, bard work, and plenty of rain, wind and hail. In fact I had my face well massaged by the last. When we got back I wanted to get a warm bath, which is a necessity after such a severe exertion, but the pipes were all out of order, and I could not get one. Then we were Bborfc of mutton, and Mr Adamson had to go away to a station hard by to get some. lam not a Sybarite by any manner of means, but I think that some better provision thaa mutton and damper might be made for tourists. I wanted to go further afield and see all that was to ba seen in this magnificent country. But I could git no guide to go with me. Mr Adamson could not go away, and therefore I had most reluctantly to abandon my tour. I could not go alone, as, apart from n?y inexperience on ice, there is considerable danger in one man tackling the immense glaciers. Supposing, instead of myself only, a dozen or more had come over from Melbourne to go on the glaciers. There would have been an absolute famine, as I feel sure that Mr Adamson could at no time scare up enough food for half-a-dozen people. I hope the Government will look into this matter, because it is a very serious thing for a man to come a thousand miles or so, and then have to return without having accomplished ■what he wants to do. Besides which, it gives your country a bad name with tourists, and will most certainly check the flow of summer visitors to New Zealand. As I have been disappointed in my trip to the regions of frost, ice and snow, I am going to the other extreme, and am paying another visit to the hot lakes."