HERE AND THERE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1244, 19 February 1914, Page 41

HERE AND THERE.

Amongst the passengers by the Huddart-Parker liner which sailed last Monday were Doctors Elizabeth Sweet, Sinclair, Gillies, E. Roth, Rowley, Purchas, Turnbull, Scott, and Ab/bott. The visitors were returning to Sydney after attending the Medical Congress held in Auckland.

Mr. Dugald Thomson, a well-known Auckland sportsman, who is taking North-East across to Australia to contest the big jumping events, left last Monday on board the Huddart-Parker steamer Victoria for Sydney. Mr. T. Jones is in charge of the horse.

Mr. and Mrs. George Dunnet, residents. of Auckland, left by the Union Company’s steamer Maheno for Melbourne, where they intend to take up their residence.

Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Houghton, English tourists, who have been travelling in the Rotorua district, left for England by the s.s. Maheno last week.

Mr. D. Clayton, of the Kauri Timber Company, accompanied by Mrs. Clayton, left for Sydney and Melbourne bjy the Maheno upon her last trip.

The Rev. Dr. Stretch, Bishop of Newcastle,- and the Rev. Mr. Stretch, who have been staying in Auckland, returned to Sydney last week, en route for home.

Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, of Christchurch, left by the Marama on Saturday last for Vancouver.

Awanui, in the far north, where the wireless station has jeen erected, is making some progress at the present time. The Government is just about to drain large areas of swamp land at Kaitaia, adjacent to Awanui, and there is no doubt that this, when drained, will prove to be some of the richest dairying land in the North Island. The hotel at Awanui has recently changed hands, Mr. T. J. Fleming being the present proprietor. Mr. Fleming formerly had the Bridge Hotel at Kaukapakapa, and so has had some experience at the trade.

Stewart Island continues to be a most popular tourist resort. Hitherto its attractions have been confined principally to Southlanders, but this

season there have been many visitors from Otago and the North Island. As showing the popularity of the place no less than 1395 persons crossed over the straits between December 17 and January 26. The largest passen-

ger list was 186 on Christmas eve. An agitation is now on foot for a larger boat to meet the demands of the summer service.

Twelve months ago a party of bareheaded, iron-booted mountaineers were landed on the precipitous side of Lake Wakatipu. They were led by Mr. W. B. Grave, of Oamaru, and Mr. A. Talbot, of Greymouth, and went once more into the mountains to open up a new track to the Sounds on the West Coast. Now they have accomplished it, and the new track is to be opened,, a Press Association message tells us. This year the indomitable party, consisting of Messrs. Grave, Talbot, Little, and McKenzie (the two latter belonging to Gore), left Queenstown to, make a further attempt to cross the Island. From the outset the party was beset b|y difficulties, the result of the bad weather experienced. It was too bad toi permit) of any mountaineering. It rained incessantly almost, and sometimes the showers were torrential in their tendency. The party, which had united with Mr. McEnnis (Public Works Engineer), Mr. Monk (Road Inspector under the Public Works Department), and Mr. Powell (Lake County Engineer), made an attempt on the through journey and reached the head of the new pass, which is crossed at a height of 5000 feet, and the view is magnificent, and its equal is not to be found either in the Arthur or Clinton Valleys. The new route will take about four days to traverse from Elfin Bay, on Lake Wakatipu. The first stage of the tourist’s journey will be to Lake Howden, and will probably be accomplished on horseback. From Lake Howden to the head of the Hollyford will be an eight hours’ journey; the journey over the pass to the Cleddau hut will require seven hours, and from the Cleddau hut to Milford eight hours. The services of a guide may be required over the pass. Huts will be erected along the route, one at the head of the Hollvtord and one at the head of the Cleddau. At Lake Howden there is already a hut. The new route is destined to become very popular, in that it will alternate the overland journey to Milford Sound, which at present can only bte made by way of Lake Te Anau. It is ” certain yet when the work of cutting the track will be started. Mr. Grave considers that three men in a couple of months could make the route satisfactory for tourists. It is to< be honed that the work will immediatelv commenced, so that the track may be open for next season.