Our Illustrations

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 14, 7 April 1906, Page 21

Our Illustrations

THE OTIRA GORGE. The most frequented route into and Out of Westland is via Arthur's Pass. Springfield. 44 miles by train from Christchurch, situated at an elevation of 1252 ft. above sea level, is the usual starting place fdr w-hat is undoubtedly one of the finest coach trips in the colony. along the C-hristchurch-Hokitika-road. which is kept in splendid order, being one of the few roads maintained at the expense of the colony. Nine miles from Springfield, on the Hokitika-road, the foot of Porter’s Pass is reached, about 2000 ft. above sea level. The road ascends to the pass by easy gradients, the top, 3102 ft. above sea level, being the highest point touched on the road; from top to bottom being a distance of two miles and a quarter. A mile and a half further on Lake Iwndon is reached. Five miles beyond the lake the Castle Hill Bocks are reached. These form fantastic groups of various forms, and fine bold masses of limestone rocks, from which an excellent building-stone is obtained. The limestone caves, a

mile and a halt from the Castle Hill Hotel, and less than half a mil** from where the main road crosses the Broken River, are of great interest. The whole Cave Stream runs underneath the surface through a limestone cavern for a quarter of a mile, the stream rushing into the cavern over a waterfall about 20ft. in height. For the first few chains it is very difficult to follow, on account of deep pools, but after these are passed the stream can easily Im* followed through the cavern to its junction with the Broken River, where, at the exit, there is a beautiful natural cavern, through which a very large load of straw might be taken without touching the top or sides. The Castle Hill Hotel? 20 miles from Springfield, and 2371 ft. above sea-level, surrounded by ranges and peaks from 0000 ft. to 7000 ft. high, is an ideal resort for invalids and those desirous of a thorough change. Seven miles further on Lake Pearson, 1990 ft. above sea-level, is reached. Within a few miles the road passes Lake Grasmere, with easy sloping flats on the southern side, and abrupt precipitous country covered with scrub and patches of bush on the north. The Cass, 35 miles from Springfield, and 2371 ft. above sea-level is the junction for the road leading to the country on the north side of the Waimakariri. The cuttings along the Waimakariri are very interesting, the road in places being cut. out of the solid rock, and in places built up from the river a considerable height. The Bea ley, 45 miles from Springfield,

situated 2130 ft. alwivr sea-level, at the junction of the Bewley ami Waimakariri Rivers, is the usual stopping-place for the night, occasionally as many as a hundred visitors having been there at once. Lying at the foot of rugged mountains, covered to a height of over 4000 ft. with tawhai. and running back into perpetual snow, the sit u.it ion of tin* Bealey Township is a particularly favoured one. the sunsets m* the evenings after a nor’-wester oeing remarkably fine. From the junction <»f th** Crow River, six mik*s above the Bealey, the first true glacier is seen, ascending to about 4500 fret above sea-level. After leaving the Bealey Township the road crosses the Waimakariri. winding up through avenues of tawhai. along the steep banks of the B**alcy River. About eight miles from the Bealey the Devil’s Punch bowl is reached. This is tin* basin of a magnificent walerfall, broken in the middle, of a total height of over 500 ft. The road from here ascends very rapidly up the slopes of Arthur's Pass, through a dense tawhai forest, until it reaches the summit. 3O3Sft. above sealevel. Looking to the south, the Goldney Glacier is seen arising out of the perpetual snows of Mount Holleston. Leaving the Pass, the road runs westward, and is fairly level for a mile along the northern side of tin* tarn-dotted depression which lies between the mossgrown angular rocks of two ancient lateral moraines. The bottom of this

trough is carpeted with a velvety sward, variegated with a sprinkling of

alpine flora and blossoming shrubs. Tin adjacent sidehings ar** coveivd with loose debris, partly ov**rlaid with brooms, veronicas, etc., with i liters paceof tussock grass. Above all. on eit liet side, stands the bold, roughened <.lop**> of the main divide, ribbed with naked spurs and scarred by numerous couloirs. Looking eastward. tin* far-reaching vista of th** bush dad faces and rock crowned heights of the Braley Gorge may In* seen, while outlined in the <li> liiiin* loom up the smoot h-llankrd mountains of the Waimakariri Valley. W'estward, on the right, appear th** rocky crests of Hill’s Peak, and on the left the snow-flecked summit of Mount Temple, with the miniature Goldney Glacier overhanging the rock strewn slopes of the Upper (Mira. The road now dips sharply into the valley, whence a short smooth stretch, l)toi<lern<l by stunted cedar ami the palm-topped neinei A leads to a huge talus of enormous rocks, up and down which it winds to the top of the ‘Zigzag.” from which a lovely view is obtained. Behind and in front are precipices. fully 2000 ft. high, topped by fantastic rocky pinnacles, presenting bold fares of rock, almost destitute of vegetation. Below, on the left, the river surges over obstructing boulders, and falls in picturesque cascades; in front appears the ravine of the (Mira Gorge, coated with shaggy, gnarled, stormtwisted forest, and bounded by the snowy crown of Mount Barron. The. grade now descends rapidly, snaking through accumulations of rock overgrown with dwarfed ratas. and a tangle

of alpine underbush. And thence for a distance of 2.J miles there are obtained swift ly-sueeeeding glimpses of waterfalls, fissured cliffs, and plunging rapids. The coach-road twists down the canon, eoinetinies benched out of the rock and overhanging the foaming river 200 ft. below; at other places the traveller is carried along on timber buttresses almost level with the water, crossing and recrossing the stream on single-span bridges of 120 ft. dear, which appear dwarfed by the surrounding magnitudes, until, sweeping round a bush-clad spur, the stage of Otira is reached at the junction of the Rolleston River. This small settlement consists of the hotel, roadman’s cottage, and Cobb and Co.’s stables. The telephone and postoilices are located in the hotel, which commands an extensive outlook on the surrounding mountains.

CHRISTCHURCH THE CITY OF THE PLAINS."

Christchurch, the capital city of the rich Canterbury province, which we illustrate this week in our supplement, is situated on the plains about seven miles from Port Lyttelton. It is practically level, the original portion of the city being laid out in rectangular form, two miles by one and a-quarter, and intersected diagonally by a street. All the principal streets are 66ft wide, and the city has consequently a line open aspect. Tins effect is increased by several open spaces, such as Cathedral Square, right in the centre, where the Cathedral, Government Buildings, and other substantial buildings give an air of well-buiit appearance to the place. We give two views of the Cathedral, which is, perhaps, the finest ecclesiastical building in the colony. It has a lofty spire which dominates the city. At very infrequent intervals Canterbury has been visited by earthquakes, and on two occasions this spire has suffered considerable damage, and it is not so long ago since its restoration was completed. The Roman Catholic Cathedral, of which we give a picture of the exterior, is another fine pile. . It was finished last year. In the year 1003 three adjoining boroughs were amalgamated with the city, and were known,as Greater Christchurch. This increased area, together with the suburbs, has a population of about 00,000; Christchurch is r ich in its parks, -such as Haglev Park, 400 acres in extent: Domain and Botannieal Gardens; 79 acres: and Lancaster Park; but it is particularly fortunate in the riven Avon. The Avon makes the town from a scenic point of view, .and the citizens are naturally very .proud of their river. It meanders right through the city, and its willovy clad banks are spanned by handsome bridges at frequent intervals. Christchurch is particularly interesting at the present time in view of the great preparations being made for the International Exhibition, which is. to be opened there in November next.

When rheumatism first attacked me I was then living on the West Coast, at Cobden, near Grey mouth/* . said Mrs Bowie. “My ankle suddenly swelled up and the pain was frightful. The doctors treated me for a bad sprain but 1 got worse and worse. Al last I was a confirmed invalid. The swelling spread up one leg and then began in the other. That showed it was no sprain. It must have been in my blood. I cannot find words to describe what I suffered. The pain broke down my nerves and undermined my whole health. 1 had no appetite, and my back was always aching. But. worst of all, was my heart. The least noise made it jump and thump like mad for a few minutes—and then it seemed to stop beating altogether. I never knew when I might drop dead with it. “All this time I was growing worse and worse. I hated the sight of food, and began to lose all strength. I used to wake up in the dead of night in a cold Sweat, often the bedding was soaked through. Somebody had to keep wiping the sweat away. I was so weak from it that I could hardly lift my hand. All this time I was suffering untold torture from rheumatism. For five years I drifted on in this low weak state, and the doctors told me 1 could not live another two years. “They ordered me away to a better climate. so Mr Bowie brought me over here to Dunedin, where he soon built up a business in shipping circles. But the change did me no real good. I was a hopeless case. My legs swelled bigger and bigger. It must have been dropsy. My flesh was as soft as dough. When I pressed my finger on my legs, I could actually bury them in the flesh. I could not get my boots on. Walking was out of the .question. I could

only crawl at best. My life was one miserable round of pain. 1 saw nothing to live for, and often prayed to God that tlTe pain would kill me.

“By this time I had given up all hope,’’ Mr.s Bowie went on. “Of course, 1 had often read of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills, but 1 only smiled at the thought of using them. Then, one day, when suffering more than ever, Mr Bowie read of a ease almost exactly like my own. He read it over and over again to me, and it gave me fresh hope every time.

‘“lt was in November, 1903, that I sent to the grocer’s for my first box of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills. I fancied that even that first box did me good. Certainly it gave me an appetite. 1 got more, and kept taking them till February, 1904. Little by little, the dropsy in my legs went down. The piercing rheumatic pains eased up in my joints and muscles. My heart became sound ami strong. My nerves wore braced up wonderfully. In a few weeks, instead of loking like a corpse, I got a cl fear skin and fresh colour. As my strength came hack, I was able to get up and walk. Now 1 am in the best of health, and just delight to keep going all day with my housework. There’s no doubt but Dr. Williams’ Fink Pills worked a miracle when they cured me.’’ Dr. Williams’ Pink Fills worked this miracle by actually making new blood for Mrs Bowie. They do just this one thing —but they do it well. They don’t act on the bowels. They don’t bother with mere symptoms. They just strike straight at th** root of all blood diseases like anaemia, skin trouble, biliousness, indigestion, liver complaint, headaches, backaches, kidney i roubles, lumbago, rheumatism, sciatica, nervousness, neuralgia, general weakness, decline, consumption (in its early stages), locomotor ataxia, and the secret ailments that come to girls and women when their blood becomes weak, impure, or irregular. Through the blood. Dr. Williams’ Pink Fills cure all these just as surely as they cured Mrs Bowie. But, of course, you must get the genuine Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills. Sold by all retailers, and the Dr. Williams’ Medicine Co., Wellington, at 3/ a box, six boxes lfi/6, post free.