Page 6 Advertisements Column 2

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 138, 20 March 1940, Page 6

Centennial Souvenir Extracts HERE TO YONDER—A BRIEF SURVEY OF WHAKATANE European civilisation began about 1860-70 when an erstwhile trading-station bceame a military base, and later a military settlement. Thus modern Whakatane was born though its actual name and Maori occupation dates far back into antiquity, the title alone telling the legendary arrival of the. Matatua Canoe, In JBG9-72 the Te Kooti war raged around the town, an English rc'doubt occupied the sight of an old Maori Pa on the high crest above the town while entrenchments ran either side ol the sacred Pohaluroa 'Rock, the most prominent landmark in the town. Te Kooti ael ually raided and burned the township on March 10tIt, .ISW) the torrjliccl refugees lied to a spot a couple of Villies up the river and fortified themselves. The pacification of the Maoris left them in possession of all land beyond a line known as the 'confiscation line,' which confines the Urcwera country of to-day. Beyond the 'Sacred Rock,' and sweeping the scmi-circular line of hills that ends in Whakatane, an immense swam]} traversed by three rivers, reached to the coast. The entire area was regularly inundated and the only eultiviable land reached up in to the adjoining valleys.* Within thirty years the entire area has been drained and one hundred thousand acres of prolific plains now stretch from the door of Whakatane where land and sky blend and space vanishes. Whakatane may be reached by sea or overland route,, the latter from the Waikato and Auckland, became practicable when the railway was laid to Rotorua, a distance of fifty-four miles from Whakatane. The new P.W.D. route initiates a main highway traversing the hills and skirting the lakes; Rotorua, Rotoiti, Rotoehu and Rotoma. This route* follows Hongi's Track, cut by the redoubtable warrior for the purpose of dragging his canoes overland and making possible his surprise attack on Makoia Island. The route has often been described as the finest for lake scenery in the Dominion. The coastal route, via the Ivaimais Tauranga and the rich Te Puke pasturelands follows the original mail-road initiated by the military despatch-riders during the Maori Wars. Leaving the green Te Puke hills the road follows the line, of the coast to historic Matata, with its noted wild-bird sanctuary. From thence, via Thornton and Paroa, Whakatane is reached by first-class highway. CALL OF THE SEA AT BEAUTIFUL OHOPE BEACH Panorama of Glorious Ohope Beach, Popular Bay of Plenty Sea-Side Resort. In glorious Ohope Beach Whakatane and district have a wonderful sea-side attraction for all tourists and visitors. Ohope represents all that comprises the ideal holiday resort. Endless stretches ol shining silver sand, shady cliffs of overhanging pohutukawa fringed with glowing red blossom, white-crested combers breaking in steady procession on the hard level shelf which goes to make the beach the safest in the North Island for bathing. Ohope is an asset bej r ond price to all the district and 'Its seven miles of dazzling white sand backed by the green verdure of the cliffs which make up the background, are a source of never ending charm and attraction to the thousands ot visitors from Rotorua, Auckland and the Waikato, who make, the annual pilgrimage to the finest sea-side resort of the Bay of Plenty. HISTORIC "SACRED ROCK" "POHATUROA" Striking View of Famous "Pohaturoa" Rock, with Memorial in Foreground. "Pohaturoa," enshrined for a 1000 years in the legend _<incl history of the Maori, is known to the Europeans as '"The Rock." It is a great fragment of the rocky hillside, jutting up 100 feet in an effort to rival the hiiis_ from which it was •wrenched by a gigantic earth-.shifL which in the dim past formed the great Whakatane fault, as geologists term the configuration of ihe countryside. This famous ''Sacred Rock" of the Maori was the gathering place of the War Council; from which is derived ihe saying: "Settled in the shadow of the Rock." referring to grave issues, matters of life and death. At this rock the returning >\ fii parties laid their spoils and were welcomed by the tiioes. Alongside the Rock was a prett\ r little streamlet, tumbling down a picturesque fall; and m this streamlet the first-born sons were baptised with old-tune ceremony. A TOAST .... To the hands of all avlio laboured, To the faith of all who saw; To the love of a thousand mothers,To the stalwart sons they bore. To I lie burning hope persisting In the strong pioneering breast That fought the swamp for' a v.ay,;>r And conquered the waste in the test. To these and a thousand others Who passed without a sound We drink this toast to their labours And their consecrated ground. e. K.