TO MILFORD

Southland Times, Issue 21996, 21 April 1933, Page 6

TO MILFORD

IMPORTANCE OF ROAD

MOTOR ROUTE TO THE

SOUND

SCENIC ATTRACTIONS

The need for the completion of the Eglinton Valley road to the Gertrude Saddle and the ultimate completion of the road to Milford Sound was stressed by Dr David Jennings and Mr G. Jaquiery who waited on the executive of the Southland League at its monthly meeting last evening. Dr Jennings said he had formerly been antagonistic towards the extension of a road towards Milford Sound as he regarded the locality as a mountaineer’s paradise, but since visiting Switzerland he was satisfied that the only way to really popularize the locality was to build a road through. The road had now penetrated through the Eglinton Valley and the scenery was very fine, but to the speaker’s mind the real beauty of the resort could not be realized until the road had reached the Hollyford Valley. After passing through this valley the Gertrude Saddle would be reached and here a tunnel would be necessary before the road could be continued to Milford. The grade on the eastern side was easy almost to the top, but on the sounds side the grade was very steep for a part of the descent. A tunnel would, therefore, be necessary, but Dr Jennings did not consider that this would present any great engineering difficulties. In Switzerland a cog railway would be built and a tunnel put through without much trouble. The continuation and completion of the road was a very important matter if the Sounds District was to be popularized. Mr Jaquiery said the road was now commencing to enter the Hollyford Valley and the work of putting the road through this valley would not involve any difficulties. The road could be continued as far as possible before tunnelling would be necessary. A pedestrian track could then be blazed over the saddle and a good motor road could be provided on the Sounds side, leaving only two miles which would need to, be covered on foot. A motor car on the sounds side could convey all the tourists to Milford. The ultimate aim, of course, was to get the tunnel drilled through the mountain, but if it was possible to bring the sounus within easy reach the trip would be popularized and the need for completing the tunnel would become evident. The scenery was magnificent and the route would be of particular interest as it would reveal a profusion of native flora and fauna. In the Eglinton Valley the scenery did not compare with that in the Hollyford Valley where the native grasses and plants obtained. Native birds were very numerous in the locality. The necessary machinery to drill the tunnel was lying idle in the Dominion and could be utilized if the road was completed to the tunnel mouth. The danger was that political influence would be brought to bear to have the workers on the road diverted to the Haast Pass road. If the road was stopped now the tunnel would never be possible. ~ The president (Mr W. Hmchey) said he had been pleased to hear the views of Dr Jennings and Mr Jaquiery and their information would be very valuable to the league. It was very important that the road should be completed, and it was to be hoped that before long the ultimate goal would be achieved. .