SOUTH ISLAND FIRST

Southland Times, Issue 22297, 12 April 1934, Page 7

SOUTH ISLAND FIRST

SIR PERCY MACKINNON’S TOUR. CHARMED WITH PEOPLE AND SCENERY. At least one English visitor to New Zealand during the summer tourist season preferred to see the South Island before the North Island, because, as he said on Tuesday, he had heard so much about the scenic beauty of southern New Zealand, even before he left England (says the Christchurch Press). That visitor is Sir Percy MacKinnon, immediate past chairman of Lloyd’s, London, and a man with large wool interests in Australia and elsewhere. He landed at Auckland a fortnight ago and came direct to the South Island. He has now returned from Lake Manapouri, Queenstown and Mount Cook, and he is more than satisfied with what he has seen in the lake and sound districts. Sir Percy and Lady MacKinnon walked from the head of Lake Manapouri to Doubtful Sound, and they both say they have never seen anything quite as beautiful as the mountain and bush scenery in that region. They caught some fish in the sound and walked back to the lake in heavy rain—even this did not displease them. Queenstown they liked, and Mount Cook they thought was magnificent. They are now thinking of going to the Franz Josef glacier, but if the weather is unkind they may stay in Christchurch and make shorter trips to such places as Akaroa and Hanmer Springs. Sir Percy said that his most vivid impression of New Zealand arose from the kindness and hospitality of the people. On their trip they had met nothing but courtesy and a charming desire to assist them. This Sir Percy put down to the English character of the people, but Lady MacKinnon ascribed it to Scottish influence. They had heard a great deal about the South Island of New Zealand before they left their home in Kent; all they had heard was true, and much of what they had seen had surpassed their most sanguine expectations. While they were in Australia, however, they had heard nothing about New Zealand except descriptions of terrible earthquakes. “It is rather an impertinence to speak of a country without living in it for some time,” sair Sir Percy, “but we have received such kindness in the South Island and we have enjoyed ourselves so much that we look on it almost as a perfect country.” Sir Percy and Lady MacKinnon are shortly leaving for the North Island, and they will sail on May 1 by the Aorangi. Sir Percy resigned his position as chairman of Lloyd’s at the end of last year, and he is using this year of freedom for a good, long holiday. He is very glad that he decided to come io this part of the world.