Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/121



HIS volume will be found to contain seven lithographic views taken from different points on the interesting overland journey from Christchurch to Hokitika. They comprise the Otira Gorge, Bealey Gorge, Arthur’s Pass, Lady Waterfall, Devil’s Punchbowl, and two views of the Avenue on the western side of the ranges.

Tourists may first be informed of the cost of the journey from the Eastern capital overland to the West Coast. The information, as given in the “New Zealand Tourists’ Vade Mecum,” a small handbook to the services of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, which also contains a guide to the principal ports of the Colony visited by that Company’s steamers, is as follows:—“Tourists who desire to visit the West Coast of the Middle Island would do well to travel overland from Christchurch, and thus secure the opportunity of driving through the magnificent scenery of the West Coast road, the passage of the Otira Gorge being inexpressibly grand and beautiful in the variety of its effects. Tourists taking this route travel by rail, 7.20 a.m., to Springfield (38 miles); fares—First Class, 5s. 8d.; second class, 3s. 9d.; return (Saturday), 7s. 6d. and 5s., whence on Tuesdays and Fridays coaches depart for Hokitika, Greymouth, Reefton, and Westport. Single fare, to Hokitika and Greymouth, £4, 10s.; return, available for one month, £7.” To this we may add that coaches from the West Coast to Christchurch leave Hokitika every Tuesday and Friday at 5 a.m., taking on Greymouth and Kumara passengers at the latter place at 7 a.m., reaching Christchurch early the following evening, the fares being the same from either end.

The journey from the East to the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand is, in truth, one of surpassing grandeur. It is universally admitted by the most experienced travellers that the road from Canterbury to Westland, presents the most picturesque, gorgeous, and romantic scenery of any part of the world. To quote the words of Mr Thomas Bracken, “Here we have a land, yet fresh from the hand of its Maker, formed in all the wild prodigality of natural beauty. A land of stupendous mountains, roaring cataracts, silvery cascades, fantastic volcanic formations, magnificent landscapes, noble forests, and picturesque lakes,” meeting the tourist at every turn, in a thirty hours’ journey. This West Coast road must be seen to be appreciated and enjoyed. The stupendous grandeur of the scenery in many places is beyond description, and is such as can only be realised by actual vision and experience. I have had the good and bad fortune to have travelled over this new “land of the mountain and the