OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XXI, 13 November 1897, Page 649

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE TEMUKA RIVER. The sketch of the Temuka River is taken high up the stream. The scenery in the vicinity, and still further inland, is the wildest in Canterbury, or, indeed, in all New Zealand. Here lies the famous Mackenzie country, an inhospitable region in many respects, but still capable of affording good pasturage for sheep in the summer-time, when the flocks on the station graze well up the slope of the great mountain range. A severe winter, however, causes great loss to the owners, the cold being extreme and the fodder and shelter Ireing scarce. The Mackenzie country is said to have got its name from a pioneer station-owner who took up his abode in the wild district and augmented his flock by the simple process of periodical raids on the flocks of the settlers on the plains below. Some years ago the country was so infested with wild pigs, which used to eat the lambs, that the owners of the two chief stations paid men to kill the pests. Some of the hunters are said to have done very well, especially at the outset, when one station-owner was offering so much for each pair of ears and the other paid for the tails as a proof of death. The pig-killers, of course, took advantage of that arrangement to get twice paid. A RELIEF EXPEDITION. The picture of a relief-party coming on traces of the lost- explorers is full of grim suggestion. One can imagine with what immense satisfaction the relief-caravan, after travelling for weeks, probably over the waste and burning sands of Western Australia, at last come across the unmistakeable signs of a white man's campingground. Now, at least, they have struck the trail, and may hope to follow it up successfully. It may not yet be too late to carry succour to the object of their search : but. on the other hand, the record of Australian exploration gives ground enough for the fear that the lost explorers, worn out with thirst and fatigue, are already beyond the power of the expedition to save them. BEACH CYCLING. At many of the sea-side resorts in America beach-cycling is a favourite pastime. It is great sport flying along the smooth sand where the receding tide has left it hard and firm. There are many beaches in New Zealand which would make splendid cycle tracks, but we can scarcely advise those of our readers who own machines and value them to go in much for beach-riding. The salt spray is far from the best thing either for the tyres or nickel-plated parts of the cycle, and the fine sand is very apt to get into the bearings. Of course, for those to whom the cost of a new machine is a small matter these drawbacks to beach-cycling are probably trivial : but few of us are in that happy position. If any of our readers do think of taking a spin on the beach occasionally, they should make a point of carefully cleaning and oiling their machines before putting them away. Then the chances of their being damaged will be very much lessened. STATUE OF BISHOP HARPER. In this issue we give a photogravure of the recumbent statue of the late Bishop Harper, which was unveiled before a large congregation in the Christchurch Cathedral last xveek by his son. Canon Harper, and Mr Henry Slator. the Chancellor of the Diocese. The statue, which is the work of Mr F. J. Williamson, of Esher, Surrey, is said to be a striking likeness of the original, and very finely finished. It represents the deceased primate lying in his robes on a marble couch, his left hand clasping his episcopal cross, his right resting on his breast, his head is slightly inclined to the left, the eyes closed in sleep. Mr Williamson is par excellence sculptor to the Queen and the Royal Family. He has executed busts and statues of all its members except the Prince of Wales, who, being so busy, has never been able to give him enough sittings, but whom he hopes to perpetuate in marble next Christmas. His studio is full of Royalties, even to Prince Edward of York, crawling on all fours with a little punchiuello tightly clasped in one hand.

HOOKER GLACIER. Although the Hooker only comes fifth in size among the glaciers of Canterbury, the Great Tasman being the largest, it still presents sufficient difficulties to the unexperienced Alpine climber. As our illustration shows, the Hooker Glacier has some very respectable crevasses, which require to be carefully negotiated. ARTHUR'S PASS. Travellers who have made the journey from Christchurch to the West Coast will remember Arthur's Pass, with its magnificent scenery. Our picture shows the summit of the Pass, with the boundary post which marks the line that divides Canterbury from Otago. The road, which at this point is about 3,000 feet above the sea level, descends to the westwards, somewhat rapidly, into the well-known Otira Gorge, of which much has been said and written.