EGLINTON VISITED

Southland Times, Issue 25362, 14 August 1935, Page 7

EGLINTON VISITED

ENGLISHMAN IMPRESSED. ATTRACTIONS OF PROVINCE.

Mr W. E. Greatrex, an Englishman who has travelled extensively in Australia and New Zealand during the past seven months, has just concluded a tour of Southland. He was very impressed with the potentialities of the country districts, and with the scenic beauties of the tourist places. Mr Greatrex, who is a representative of Wilson Meats, Ltd., of London, proceeded from Great Britain to Australia, where most of the major cities were visited, via Canada. After spending several months in the Commonwealth he set out for New Zealand with an extensive itinerary mapped out. Mr Greatrex is mainly on a business tour, but wherever possible he endeavours to visit the show places of the various provinces and districts. Before leaving Invercargill for Dunedin by the express yesterday afternoon he discussed what he described as the purely ’‘tourist phase of his journey with a Southland Times reporter. “I was in Brisbane during January and February,” said Mr Greatrex, “and each day seemed to me hotter than the preceding one. How the sun shone out of the blue sky over Queenland’s capital city! At times I wondered how the inhabitants were able to concentrate on their work, but I was assured that after a time one became more or less accustomed to the conditions. Towards the end of my visit the atmosphere was becoming cooler, and I was really able to enjoy myself and face life with renewed zest and enthusiasm. During my stay in Australia my mind was subjected to many new and lasting impressions, which must after a time become hazy, because of their multitude; but I can safely state that the memory of those days during my first two months in Brisbane will remain with me always. Lovely Manapouri. “Of course I visited Rotorua and the surrounding thermal regions while I was in the North Island, and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to these parts. Because of extensive business engagements I was not able to explore many of your other favoured places during the rest of my journey, but when I reached Invercargill and Mr L. W. Spencer, manager of the local branch of the Union Company, proposed a trip to the Eglinton Valley and Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, 1 felt it would be foolish not to fall in with his suggestion, and visit these lovely watersheets which arc at once lakes of the forest and the snowy' mountains. j “We left Invercargill in Mr Spencer s car,” said Mr Greatrex, and travelled first to Manapouri. On this lake there are many places of mirror-like calm; retreats of an almost unimaginable beauty', and of a lush, bushy fragrance such as no one forgets; the heart of the woods as well as the heart of lakeland. I think the mountains are grand in contrast, rising up into unscaleable aspect, and descending in tremendous slants to the high timber line. A thunderstorm among these alps would be a spectacle worth seeing. “Te Anau, f think, possesses more of a fiord-like character than Manapouri; there arts many striking pictures of changing colour in its arms that penetrate the mountains. Here one may experience a feeling of utter peace throughout a succession of leisured days; and the deep sleep of a good day done each night. Additions to Hotel. “While we were visiting the lake extensive additions were being made to the Te Anau Hotel. A large number of workmen were on the job erecting 30 new bedrooms. 1 believe that these alterations will be completed in time for the coming tourist season, and from what I can gather you are going to have a record number of trippers visiting these parts next summer. “The sights to be seen on the road that will take motorists through to Milford Sound are really magnificent. My' portable movie camera was working overtime while we were passing through this country. I am of the opinion that this region must be seen to be believed, and it was for this reason that I shot such a large number of scenes. If these films develop successfully my family and friends will be able to appreciate more readily the loveliness of Te Anau and Manapouri and the grandeur of the Eglinton Valley. I hope to return to these pleasant places when the road is completed, for now that I have been so far I feel that I must see Milford.” Mr Greatrex said he would probably return to Australia before proceeding back to England. He was loath to leave New Zealand, where he had been made very welcome by all with whom he had come into contact.