THE WAIRERE FALLS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 28, 13 March 1942, Page 4

THE WAIRERE FALLS

A LINK with old Whakatane was brought to light at the meeting of the Whakatane Borough Council last Monday, when the claim was mad.e, by a person now resident in Auckland that the riparian rights to the waters of the Wairei/3 Falls,' were in the hands of a private individual, wjio resented the general use now being made of them by persons other than Maoris. If the claim is genuine, and there is no reason to doubt it, we feel that it is most unfortunate,, and it would be interesting to know who disposed of the rights, and how the deal was transacted. From a civic point of view we feel that the falls should have been protected and retained as a public asset, which could be utilised to advantage as the town grew in importance. It would have stood well to. the vision of the early local authorities of our town, had they protected the falls by the creation of a, reserve of an acre or two instead of allowing them to become commercialised. The corner then could have been transformed into a permanent beauty spot which being close to the business section of the town would have been doubly attractive and scenic.