SOUTHLAND’S SCENIC ASSET.

Western Star, 6 April 1934, Page 2

SOUTHLAND’S SCENIC ASSET.

The interim report on the proposal to open up a new motor route round the western portion of the South Island, recently made by the Hon. Adam. Hamilton, Minister in charge of the tourist resorts, has met with the unanimous approval of the press of Otago and Southland. It has been disclosed by engineers that a connection between the Eglinton Valley and Milford Sound can be effected by the construction of a tunnel of 60 chains in length through the Homer Saddle instead of -by tho piercing of a tunnel half as long again -through the Gertrude Saddle. The Homer Saddle route is the more, desirable from the reading point of view. Mr Hamilton states that both tunnel and road are practicable. This is-some-thing definite to go upon; and tho reasonable expectation that ‘ the completion of these works would lead to Milford Sound becoming a port of call for vessels engaged in the overseas cruises that are now becoming so popular constitutes an argument of con siderable weight in support of a scheme of which the Minister himself lias evidently formed a very favourable opinion. If a community is to make the best of its scenic assets as an attraction to tourists it must plan to render them as reasonably accessible as possible. The construction of a road from Milford, an entry point from which all its more important scenic resorts could readily be reached, would, greatly stimulato a lucrative. tourist traffic, and be of great benefit to the South Island, which pos sesses some of the finest scenery in the world. Mr Hamilton strongly favours the proposal.