OHOPE CROWDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 36, 29 December 1944, Page 5

OHOPE CROWDED

POPULAR HOLIDAY RESORT

RECORD WAR'-TI'ME CHRISTMAS

It is estimated that this year more holiday-makers have been attracted to Ohope than for any previous war-time Christmas vacation. All available accom|-» modation is utilised whilst campers are making best of every available corner and cov-

er. The main crowd arrived somewhat later than usual. It appears that tlWre is a growing tendency among camipers to spend Christmas at home and to embark upon the main holiday in the New Year. This apparently was the position with most of those who arriyjjd' at Whakatane's celebrated beach resort this year. As was the case last year there is a preponderance of children at the. beach indicating that most families have made a point of giving the juvenile section the benefit ol the long school holidays. It is surprising how far some families have travelled. Several groups have come from the South Island whilst there are many Wellington-! ian and Auckland residents. The Waikato is widely represented and the general impression is that Ohope knows few peers if any as an ideal holiday resort.

From morning till dark, the One sultry weather has encouraged hundreds to bathe and to prominade the- beach, whilst the central picnic grounds have Jjc.cn crowded day after day. As in the past however there is one general complaint, and that is the dust which is create>d from the sandy unsealed main road.

The laying out ef the beach the formation of footpaths and the. ultimate sealing of the roadway will undoubtedly make for a one hundred per cent improvement and these suggestions at the height of the holiday season, Avhen they are so generally expressed by visitors are a powerful recommendation to both the County Council and the Domain Board to get busy with the Main Road theory, and the general planning of the route which must be followed.