Manapouri Township,

so far as buildings are concerned, is almost a township in name only, Murrell's is the only house that is seen as the visitor approaches. page 6 It is situated in a prominent position on the plateau which forts the angle where the river leaves the lake, and has bush surrounding it. The house commands a fine view of the lower end of the Lake, and of the amphitheatre of noble mountains which almost encircle it. To the left a wooded peninsua stretches out into the lake, and on the far side of this the Monument rears its precipitous and [unclear: rerrated] head, a notable landmark, while further to the left Titiroa, a bold and striking mountain is a feature of the landscape. From the top of Titircoa for a long distance down the brosd shoulders of its leading spur—if it is permissible to use the word in connection with a mountain of such magnitude—the surface is one vast expanse of white granite. Looked at from a distance there does not appear to be a vestige of soil or vegetation and while it does not possess the whiteness of pure snow, the effect is that of a broad snow-clad mountain top. We had seen it for some miles as we drove towards the lake, and we watched It as it was finally lost to view sumo days afterwards on our return to civilisation, many miles away from it on the road to Lumsden. But to return to the "township." On the sides of the angle below Murrell's a short descent of the terrace Manapouri township in still for the most part clad with its original brech and manuka bush, and a delightful, shady resort it is for the visitor in his spare hours, especially if he comes from the cities and has botanical tastes, for in such case there is much to engage his attention. The bush, too, is alive with the cicada, and its incessant chirping fills the air with a volume of sound. Now here in New Zealand has the writer heard anything like it. In a clearing near the outlet of the river, the remainder of the township is situated. It consists of one or two huts and a stable, all constructed of bush slabs, and a weatherboard house in course of construction fot Mr Crosby, who owns the stable, and runs the coaching service between Manapouri, Te Anau, and Lumsden. Between the sections of the township and the river a chain and a-half of the water frontage is reserved. This is covered with beech, manuka, and a few of the smaller varieties of shrubs, and no effort should be spared to preserve this beautiful adornment of the lake and river banks. If the writer mistakes not, Manapouri and To Anau, sa with Wakatipu and wanaka, will yet become the resort of hundreds of visitors in the holiday season where at present they number only units, and the preservation of the great natural beauty of the bush at Manapouri township cannot be too strongly kept before the present residents The sections wilt no doubt be largely cleared [unclear: as] are gradually taken up, but the [unclear: river] serve should be jealously guarded from [unclear: d] tion,^*