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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 68

Lake te Anau

Lake te Anau.

Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the Middle Island of New Zealand, and this is disagreeably realised sometimes by the boat travellers when a strong head-wind arises, for the waves are really surprising on an inland body of water. The lake is very beautiful, and is very plentifully besprinkled with small islands covered with trees and bush, while its shores are greatly indented, thus forming numerous harbours. At the first approach from Lumsden Railway Station, the shores are clear, the adjacent country being what is called fern land. The land is covered with bracken (Pteris aquilina). A little way up the lake on this side and the forest and mountains form its shores, and on the farther side (the western), its shores are everywhere mountainous and forest-covered. On this western side also there are three large arms or fiords, and these fiords, together with the Clinton end (which might almost be called a northern fiord), page 20 furnish the opportunity for a fortnight of picnicking which cannot he surpassed either for beauty, comfort, and variety. With a launch capable of providing sleeping and cooking accommodation for—say six to eight people—there would be no tent-pitching, no swag-carrying, and only as much pedes-trianism as the person chose by landing. Then, with shooting, fishing, botanising, &c., &c., while the eye is continually being charmed or astonished by some new natural wonder or beauty, it is possible to spend the acmé of perfection of a holiday. For this purpose it is understood that next tourist season will see an entire novelty on this side of the Equator, for it is proposed to place an electric launch upon the lake. This launch will be able to carry thirty persons, and to provide sleeping accommodation for eight, and since an electric boat has no visible machinery, no noise or vibration, and ran conveniently carry double the number of passengers, the same size steamboat could (since there is no room needed for engine and boiler). Next season Te Anau will be enabled to offer unusual, unique, and unsurpassed attractions to tourists. The launch in question is to be charged by electricity generated on shore by water-power, of which the district contains many thousands of horse-power in its turbulent rivers and creeks. The cost of propelling it, is then, merely the interest on the water-power outlay, with average depreciation.

A twenty-two roomed Alpine Hotel (Swiss chalet style of architecture), is also about to be built, and as the table will be good, the accommodation comfortable and suitable, while its general surroundings will be such as no other hotel in the Colony can boast, there will be every inducement and no drawbacks to cause all the Australasian tourist world to hasten to spend so glorious and complete a holiday.

decorative feature

Printed at the "Times" Office, Gloucester Street, Christchurch.