TOURIST RESORTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16543, 29 September 1921, Page 4

TOURIST RESORTS.

GOVERNMENT AGENT’S VISIT* Mr S. J. Collett, Government tourist agent, returned to ( 'briHchurch on Tuesday from a round tour comprising til© Qouth Westland glaciers, the Butler and Nelson district-. Llic Marlborough Sounds and Kaikoura. It is some seven years since he was over that ground before, and he states that thero is considerable improvement in means of transit mid the accommodation obtainable en route. The trip to the glacier was done by motor, the rivers being now practically ail bridged, or, where n-ot bridged, tJiey are either in course of construction or contracts have been lei for the work. The return trip from the glacier to Hokitika, 97 miles, was done in a little over six hours. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., accompanied Air Collett as far as the Okurito Forks. The largo new electric dredge at Rimu had begun work, but had not had a wash-up. Mr Collett stated that ihi? is one of the most up-to-date dredges in the world and is stated, with preliminary prospecting expenses, latest machinery, and so on, to have cost close on a quarter of a million pounds. If it is a success others will be constructed. At Westport Mr Collett found a very enthusiastic Publicity League, which is getting out booklets and other publications on the scenic beauties of the district. The promoters were very pleased to accept any advice li€> could offer them on the subject. He found that the charm of the Otira and Buffer ; Gorges had not faded, but that the 1 motor on the latter rushes one through j almost too quickly for thorough enjoy l - j meift. Tn the Nelson district, he said, the I numerous orchards are looking really j well, all the various trees coming into bloom. The run from Nelson to Blen- j heim, although very beautiful in parts, i has lost some of its charm through a { ©Teat deal of the bush having been j burned. The Marlborough Sounds arc j becoming more appreciated each year, j as evidenced by one of the leading j hotels there being already booked up j from November to February. Kaikoura | was beautiful, the recent rain making j the adjacent country in spleudid ; condition. This, with the snow-capped ' mountains and the sparkling sea, made I it. a world-travelled tourist said to .Mr Collett, the rival of anything to be j seen on the. Riviera. The information gained on this tour ; will be of great service to Mr Collett 1 during the coining season, as it com- , prised, in his opinion, some of the ! grandest mountain, lake, glacier and , bush scenery to be found in any part i of the world.