Page 29 - 1966

After overcoming a mechanical failure halfway up a hill, and a skilful exhibition of driving by an unlicensed Taylor, we stopped at Cascade Creek and Te Anau for refreshments. After studying a red beech forest at Cascade Creek, we proceeded to our destination.
School was chosen by ballot to represent their forms by a bus trip around the South Island.
From the road to the Howden Hut there was a steep hour-long climb, and on arriving at the hut some boys braved an exhilarating swim in the chilly waters of Lake Howden.
C. R. Robertson, Head of the Social Studies Depart­ ment, and Mr. K. B. Briggs, Geography Specialist. A tour bus had been chartered and accommodation arranged at various hotels and guest houses.
The following morning we carried out a forest tran­ sect.This showed that the silver beech was not re­ juvenating su ciently. Mr. Briggs, who had been at Cascade purchasing extra supplies, retu ed in mid­ morning, and we studied the Key Summit area. From the top of Key Summit (3,046ft.) the view was ex­ cellent. Gentians were in ower, and we also examined El n woodlands and bog communities typical of the area.
The immediate intention was to familiarise the students with particular aspects of the new School Cer­ tificate syllabus pertaining to the South Island.Special attention was given to glaciation with reference to the outwash gravels, moraines, dammed lakes and erosional features. The Fox and Franz Josef glacier were visited. Whilst on the West Coast due notice was made of the extractive industries (coal mining and indigenous forest ), the problems associated with them and what e orts are being made to solve them.
The Nelson lowland, an area of extensive horticul­ ture and cropping, was observed through the medium of visits to specialised farming units, e.g. tobacco, hops, pip fruit, berry fruit, etc., and their associated indus­ tries, speci cally the canning factories.
The drowned coastline phenomenon, the Marlborough Sounds, were visited and a short study was made of the changing economy of Blenheim and the relative im­ portance of the high country runs.
After a brief analysis of the site, form, function and development of the metropolis of Christchurch, a project was done on the Canterbury Plains, a region of mixed farming, in order to compare and contrast it with the farming characteristics of their own enviroment, the Southland Plain.
Some Reminiscences of the Geography Tour
" .. . the talk by Ron King, of Greymouth, on his experiences at the Wheel of Fortune at Goldsborough." -G.H.
"... the most pleasant hospitality we received from the moment we left Invercargill until the moment we arrived back."-T.W.
". ..I learnt more about such things as glaciation, specialised farming, etc., than I could have learnt in a classroom."-N.McD.
". . . an appreciation of the force that is behind glaciers and the way in which they cut enormous valleys."-G.D.
". .our journey through the Haast Pass, the tower­ ing peaks of the Southern Alps, the majesty of rimu and beech forests."-N.D.
". . . the launch trip from Picton to examine the Sounds."-J.M.
". . . the visit to Del-Crest tobacco farm and the interesting talk by Mr. Hurley on the latest methods of tobacco culture."-K. R.
'...the highlight of the tour was crossing the Haast Pass-seeing things rst hand gave us a real apprecia­ tion and consolidated what we had learned from our books. "-S.H.
"...the steep walks of the Fox Glacier, the striations, the debris, and the dead ice."-P.F.
". . . the contrast of the magni cent sce ery of the West Coast and the neglected farms and the air of depression."-A.McL.
". . . will be of great bene t to us in S.C. and will help us to understand the problems facing people in various regions."-!.G.T.
Nineteen
In the afternoon we began individual studies. Unfor­ tunately, a group of four studying Key Summit was unable to overcome the temptation to swim in some of the small lakes at the summit. However, these boys still managed to do more biology than some other members of the party.
A rubber dinghy proved a popular attra tion at the lake, but everyone looked on in awe as the owner and a passenger of the ill-fated dinghy scrambled ashore soaked, after it had sprung a leak a considerable dis­ tance o -shore.
On the Sunday the whole party tramped to the Earland Falls. After viewing this spectacle, we began a steep climb to the Grasslands, which provided an interesting botanical study. Three species of aciphylla and a whipcord species of herb provided interest to the biologists. After lunch the party, minus Mr. Briggs and Lindsay Watson, tramped to Lake McKenzie.
That night we undertook an opossum hunt. However, all that was gained was wet feet and a weta found by an excited Rhys Buckingham.
Our meals were very wholesome. We discovered to our delight that in our midst we had expert re­ lighters and porridge-makers.Unfortunately, the rice and Lima beans did not meet with the ex ected success. This was due to some strange cooking (? ! ?) methods used on them.
After tidying camp on Monday morning, we tramped back to the road and towards the Hollyford River and began the tramp into Lake Marion.At the lake, snow­ elds lay in the distance, but we found that they were further o than they looked. After a lakeside lunch, a spirited tramp back to the road began. Mr. Briggs' determination to be rst back to the road resulted in his receiving a cut leg and a week-long limp after a high-speed collision with a tree.
An eventful trip home was highlighted by a mechani­ cal breakdown, an unco-operative self-starter motor, a at tyre and an unwindable window. Many old songs were revived on this trip back to Invercargill and the traditional sh and chips were enjoyed by all at Winton. On arriving in Invercargill, the party split up, went home, and prepared for the next school day. Our sincere thanks are due to Mr. Briggs for arranging what proved to be a most valuable and interesting excursion.
-Contributed by B. A.B.and L.R.W. (Upper 6th)
Geograpliy Su,·vey of
t e Soutli Island
With the purpose of consolidating class-room know­ ledge of speci c geographic regions and phenomena, a nucleus of Fifth Formers from Southland Boys' High
The party was under the direct supervision of Mr.