Milford sound, New Zealand. Here one finds the most sublimely beautiful scenery that the New Zealand Sounds afford

Milford sound, New Zealand. Here one finds the most sublimely beautiful scenery that the New Zealand Sounds afford

Mitre Peak, Milford Sound, New Zealand

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We are standing on the eastern shore of Milford Sound, and looking across at one of the giant sentinels that guard the loveliest of all New Zealand's Sounds. Mitre Peak, 5560 feet, shows here its precipitous end, but its side view is still more imposing. It is a range, or ridge some miles long, whose back, pinnacled and indented, stands against the sky like the top of a belt of pines. The ridge is too narrow to lie a catchment area for snow, and its cascades are consequently few and meagre. Mount Phillips and the Lawrenny Peak adjoin Mitre Peak, rising shelf after shelf, each paved with ice, until a field of snow is reached 6700 feet above, us. From this rocky beach, with its luxuriant background of trees we watch the S.S. Waikare steaming outwards to commence its return journey to Dunedin, having spent three delightful days in Milford Sound. It is the occasion of her annual cruise amongst the Sounds of the West Coast. The Waikare is a magnificent vessel, of over 3000! tons gross register, and it is superbly fitted so as to ensure the greatest possible comfort to the passengers. Only first-class passengers are carried on the Sounds trip and these form themselves into a monster picnic party, intent only on good scenery and good-fellowship. As the steamer glides through the passages of the land-locked lakes, the forecastle becomes crowded with passengers, all gazing intently on the scene before them, and in silent ecstasy drinking in the beauty that is being gradually unfolded before their eyes. Each night is passed in social enjoyment of the most pleasant character, strangely heightened by the grandeur and novelty of the surroundings.

1 gelatine silver print stereograph (10 x 15 cm) mounted on card (10 x 18 cm)

Copyright George Rose. No known restrictions on publication