MACKENZIE RUNS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14327, 18 October 1910, Page 2

MACKENZIE RUNS.

INSPECTION BY THE PREMIER. A FLYING VISIT. Sir Joseph "Ward and party returned from their visit to Mt. Cook yesterday in time 10 catch the tirst express for the north at Temuka.

Seen by a "Herald'' reporter during the few minutes wait he had 011 the Temuka railway station, the Premier gave the following account of his trip: "We leit Timaru at y.oO a.m. 011 Sunday morning and reached The Hermitage at U o clock that night. Tho run up was pleasant enough, although wo met a little wind and ram which we would just as soon have been without. The object 1 hud in g"ing there was to see the nature ol the laud about which investigation has been made by the various commissions set up—formal and informal. Before iinally dealing with the report of the Commissioners, I wanted to have a general idea of tiie situation, and appearance of both tho high and the low country, and this morning between Mo. Cook and rairlie 1 was able to see portions oi tho following runs:—Biivh Hill, Mt. Cook, Gleniamier. Balmoral, Braemar, lloboro Dottiis, The. W'oids, Simons Pass, Irishman'.* Creek, Glcimioro, Lilybank (in the distance;, Richmond, Tekapo, Sawdon. and Whales Back, Gray's Hills The Grampians, and Haldon, in tho distance. I had a good birds' eye view of the country, and with what -\Lr Brodrick told me, together with tho aid of a map I gained knowledge which will enable me to better understand what I am dealing with in the reports by tho Commissioners. I wanted to have a genera! knowledge of the situation. •Though the visit lias necessarily been a short -one it is important to 1110 to have seen the various runs, and to have had pointed out on the spot by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, the high and the low country and the conditions by which they aro - surrounded during the summer and winter months. I cannot say anytliing more definite than this at the present juncture for the question of the sub-divsion. of tho runs is now before the Lands Com. 111 it tee." THE HERMITAGE. Sir Joseph went on to speak of the Hermitage as lohows: "1 also took the opportunity when at Mt. Cook to have a look at the proposed site for the new Hermitage which it is contemplated to make provision for. 1 am of opinion that in the meantime we will require to make temporary provision for the increasing number of visitors to the present- Hermitage, and this should be done in such a way as to make it possible to remove the new building to the new site when the time conies for building upon the latter. I think, with the Minister in charge of Tourist Res-orts, that the new site (at Governor's Bush) is incomparably better than the present one, and there are several reasons which lead me to this conclusion. It it a better locality for a house; it has a good natural water supply and is not subject to tho excess of water which during the winter months is forced on to the present site, thus causing discomfort to those who live there and making it not the best house in which to live. The new site has a sunny aspect while the present one is shaded too much by Mt. Wakefield. This is my first visit to Mt. Cook. I have several times promised to take my wife and family there but have never before been able to get there. I think that iu Mt. Cook we have a- great asset. It is admittedly one of the marvellous scenic spots of the country, and when better accommodation is provided for tourists it will become an exceedingly popular holiday resort." The Premier rose yesterday morning at half-past four and was 011 the return journey by half-past six. He had a chat concerning the runs with Mr 1 T. D. Burnett, of Mt. Cook station, at The Hermitage, and with Mr Robert Guthrie, 011 the same subject, at Fairlie.