The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-02-13
The Famous West Coast
Sounds and the Southern
Alps Of New Zealand.
|ET a good map Of New Zealand
II and trace line leading out of
- the Estuary at Invercargill at

UuG SOuUu anu lOfOuWdiu dlOuS UuO
west coast as far as the point marked
Milford Sound. Then run q line inland
in southeasterly direction following
the Aurthur River for about thirteen
miles from which point it bends to the
east until reaching the Clinton river.
Follow this river to Lake TIE Anu To-
section of the south island. From the
south east end of this lake draw line
a short distance south east, then turn
abruptly to the east as far as the
Mararoa river. Traverse this river to
the east, passing through gap in the
from which point pass a line along this
After crossing the lake railroad line
will take the traveller from the south
east part through rich valley connec-
ting with the main line of the island,
and you will have indicated in general
way what 1 consider, while not the
easiest, tho best itinerary to see the
famous West Coast Sounds and the
magnificent Southern Alps of New
Zealand.
This section includes the best seen
cEy VI Ul0 uO Oh0IO
are the great glaciers of the north;
there are the picturesque gorges lead
ing to the northwest coast; there is the
land of boiling lakes, steam-escapes,
belching volcanoes, and the world famed
geysers of the North Island: old Egmont
stands out like sentinel near Plymouth
best he has and he will send you to Mil
of 1onIiprr
at Auckland to the hour of goodbye at
the Bluff, lovers of nature will question:
Are you going to Milford?" ''You can't
afford to pass by the cold lakes" "You
have, fancy" said many, nothing in
comparison in America" 'Truly ex-tr'-
ord-nar! croaks a scotchman" Travellers
readily admit that the West Coast
Sounds are not to be eXcelled by the
other. Much is made of them. The
land trail to Milford-the king of the
free to good lecturers and how adjec-
scription. You read the pamphlets of
les, and in the language of even many
=
feel constrained to say they throw it
off the chest about proper and prepare
yourself for disappointment if you
plan to make the trip. But all the
glowing advertising is not without a
reason rooted in merit, and none are
but pleased 1t is place of which
these people have right to be proud
1t is unique. Though enough similar to
10 fnnp1c fn no ma rod tho
latter lose of their grandeur by being
farmed and pastured to the waters edge
while the sound region here is wild
Silent fern laden, bush and tree-covered
mountains rise straight up from where
the sea breaks into the land.
| dare say however, the average New
Zealander, though the country is small
knows little of the real grandeur of this
wonderful region. He is book and
newspaper man and tells you what he
reads. Most people will read every
column of the newspaper every day from
the heading to the medicine advertise
ments. He is counterpart Of the ole
country. 1t is the ordinary thing in the
highlands of Scotland for the people
to have been not farther than 20 miles
from where they were born. Though
New Zealand grandparents sailed ovel
thirteen thousand miles of sea, bravet
the storms of pioneer life the succeeding
generation for the most part are a home
people.
One of the greatest hindrances to the
larger influx of the masses to this seen
ic region are the excessive rate!
charged by steamers. The U. S. S. Co.
make the rates sufficiently stiff, that
they are demanded for but one trip {
year. They bid for the perfumed, friec
shirt dressdinnered sort, whose mail
purpose is to have the JOY Of spending
money and be able to remark they have
seen the sounds las long as it can b.
called a privilege rare. The amount il
far in excess of what the average ar,
justified in spending. We're it equal.
accessible to the American shore
American business enterprise, would
have steamers making the round tril
rates not to exceed five pounds ($25
and advertise for the people and maxi
it pay neat dividend.
The government is trying to popular
ize excursions to this region by max
ing it accessible overland. A trail, a
the cost of several Thousand pounds ha
been cut through from Lake TIE Anu
making the principal sound accessible
within two days walk from the latte
place. The ideal trip is to go by Sc
and return overland rather than to wal
to the sounds and return by sea for tn
simple reason that approaching over
land one looses Of the impression of aw
to be gained when steaming from tn
barren ocean within twenty minutes in
to smooth surfaced sound, fathomles
and completely surrounded by george
GUS mountains and rugged snow-cappe
peaks.
The man who goes and returns b
sea on the other hand leaves unsee
the principal scenery of the whole re
gion, for while the sounds are peculia
and sublime, there is much of a differ
emit kind equally grand on the overlan
trail.
The steamship Rimo, really trim lii
tie boat, left the Invercargill dock a
nine a. m. and was soon out to sea. W
had gone aboard the night before be
cause of a contemplated earlier star
The day was bright, the sea smooth
"A two days steam covers the space