FIORDLAND OF NEW ZEALAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 114, 6 July 1911, Page 5

FIORDLAND OF NEW ZEALAND.

LECTURE BY HON. T. MACKENZIE. The Hon. T. Mackenzie delivered a very interesting lecture at Hawera on. Tuesday evening on the “Fiordland of Now Zealand,” Lord Islington being present and a large audience. Mr Mackenzie (as reported in the “Hawera Star”) told his audience that it had been said that New Zealand lacked historic interest, but they had what counted for quite as much or more—nature in its sternest and grandest form. They had the thermal springs in the North Island,- and the Alpine regions in the South, and he believed the time would come "when., with her curative waters and invigorating climate, New Zealand would be the sanatorium, if not the health-re-cruiting ground, of Australasia. The speaker then touched upon the evidences, internal and external, that Now Zealand was the remnant of what had at one time been a vast continent. Ho mentioned the , remains of animal life which connected her with the remotest history, and also briefly referred to the similarity of the geological formation and animal life with the Chatham and Kermadoc Islands, and even South America. The Maoris sprung from a race of great navigators, who far back in the world’s history, when other nations wore afraid to venture far from land, wore constantly exploring unknown seas, and came originally, it had been said by Mr Percy Smith, from the base of the Himalayas. He passed rapidly over the discovery of New Zealand by Tasman, and the later visits by Captain Cook, followed by calls from whalers, and then went on to describe from personal knowledge of the scenes he was describing the beauties and wonders of Fiordland. His descriptions were interwoven during the first part of his lecture with the story of the explorations of Professor Brown and Mr McKinnon, both of whom were lost in trying to discover passes to the West Coast. Mr Mackenzie was very familiar with the country in which these men met their fate, and was able to throw a great deal of light on the disappearance of Professor Brown. Turning his attention directly to the scenery in the Sounds, Mr Mackenzie was assisted in bringing its incomparable beauty and grandeur before his audience with a number of excellent limelight views, better than which have not been shown. Each picture was accompanied with a few words of explanation or description, and many incidents in which the speaker had a personal interest were recorded. Amongst the views screened were: Stirling Falls, from SCO to 600 feet in height; Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls, 540 ft. high; Lake Quil, named after one of the greatest alpine climbers; Clifton Valley, with Its rich vegetation; Lake Te Anau; the head of Dusky Sound, one of the' most historic spots in New Zealand ,and made memorable by the visits of Cook, the wreck of the Endeavour by convicts, and many other incidents and episodes of lesser importance, but still very interesting; Lake Ivy, named after Mrs Mackenzie; the" head of George’s Sound, where the moose and elk had been liberated, and are doing so well. These views were followed by some excellent cinematographic views showing the Sounds, and its many waterfalls. The pictures were magnificent, and were frequently applauded.