ROUTE TO TAUPO

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2120, 11 April 1914, Page 6

ROUTE TO TAUPO

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS PREMIER INTERVIEWED WORK TO BE DONE Early completion of tho road from iWaimarino Railway Station, to Tolcaanu was advocated by a deputation representing the. New Zealand Automolbilo 'Association, which interviewed the Right Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) and the Hon. A. h. Herdman, on Thursday. It was explained that an expenditure? of: 2E3000 upon tho road would not only make it practicable for motor traffic, but would provide tho public with cheap arid easy access to a fine thermal region noted for its bracing climate, and for tho beauty of its, lako and mountain scenory. A motor-bus servico from Waimarino to Tokaanu is projected, and members of the deputation stated that when the road had been completed tbo journey from Wellington .to Lake Taupo by raii and motor-bus ' "would occupy only about fourteen hours. Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., introduced the deputation, and its members wero the Hon. J. Duthio, Mr. C. M. Banks, and Mr. L. I). Kelly (secretary of tho Automobilo Association). Apologies for absence were received from Mr. - ff. H. D. Bell, M.P., Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., nnd others, and it was mentioned that the request of the deputation was supported by a number of provincial automobile associations and clubs. . A Noglected Playground.

. Dr. Newman said that the deputation I ■wofltd have bocn larger" i>ut fur thbl".£j ! that it was tho day beforo Easter, and many peoplo had left town. The request they had to advance was that tho Government should push on the comple.tion of tho road from Waimarino Station' to Tokaanu. Tho road was made for ■somo distance from Waimarino Station, 'but was interrupted by a swamp and four deep creeks, which were unbndgcd. Beyond these obstacles the road was ma'do to» Tokaanu.' At present, owing to the uncompleted state of tho road, ■there was no satisfactory meana of ! access to Lake Taupo, and its surround'.ing aroas, which, when accessible, would 'make tho best possible playground for 'the citizens of Wellington. Tho cost of completing the road and bridging tho creeks would bo about £3000, and tho expenditure of this sum would make it ; possible for Wellington people to leave .town by the evening express and arrive 'at Lako Taupo on the following afternoon. Since Waimarino Station was : distant 206 miles from Auckland, and 220 iniles from Wellington, the route offered advantages to the people of 'Auckland as well as to those of Wellington. The opening of the route . would load to a great increase in tourist traffic to Lake Taupo, and so would benefit tho railways. j Dr. Newman stressed the point that tho completion of tho road would eii- . ablo a vast number of people to visit i tho lake who were unable to afford the cost of tho journey by way of Napier. He mentioned that a firm was prepared to establish a motor-bus servieo from Waimarino to the lako as soon as a practicable road had been provided. • He iirged that the work should be'carried out beforo next Christmas. Possibilities of tho District,

Tho Hon. J. Dirtine said that this was a national question. The district to be opened up was ono Temarkable for the grandeur of its scenery, especially that of tho three great mountains. Its rivers «nd Lake Taupo itsolf wore well stocked with fish, and the elevation of the country made ib a very suitable resort for people requiring change of air. Steam launches would no doubt tho provided on. tho lake when the number of visitors increased. He did not think that justice had boen done to tho country round about tho lake. Features like tho Huka Falls and rapids and tho whole surroundings offered inducements to visitors not to bo excelled anywhere else in New Zealand. There was no doubt that the completion of tho. road from Waimarino would benefit the public railways. With the road completed there would be a circular route available which would undoubtedly attract a largo influx of visitors. Rotorua with ■.all its attractions and all the money that had boen spent upon it by the Government wns not attracting as many people as it used to do. Wellington at present had no back country resort in which people could profitably spend their leisure time, but the work they wero asking for would open as good a resort as could bo provided anywhere. .Granted easy accoss, tho Taupo district ■would undoubtedly bo selected for the establishment of holiday residences by mauy people not only from Wellington, but from, Napier, New Plymouth, and other parts or the province. Difficulty of access at present limited tho number' of people from these districts and from the South Island who could yisib Taupo. The Departmental ' estimate of the cost of the roadwork involved and tho construction of bridges was £3000. In view of the advantages to bo gained, this small outlay should not be allowed to stand in tho way. Tho Government, ho understood, was about to employ a body of prison labour in tho neighbourhood, but tho prisoners would not"complete the road for a long tune, and they wanted to open up tracks on tho mountain side. Tho sum of £3000 would be well spent in providing so attractivo a health, pleasure, and fishine resort, and tho expenditure would -.produce a largo increase in the revenue from tourist traffic.

Work in Prospect. The Prime Minister said that the Government recognised the importance of | having tliis road made and for some time past ho had been looking forward •to making improvements m the Tongariro National Park. Tliis road was part of tho scheme. Tho park had boon handed' over to the Tourist Department and would in future be controlled by that Department instead of the Lamm Popartmont. The Government had made up its mind to havo this road formed. 'Dr. Newman: Soon Mr. Massey said ho was not m ft position to answer tin's question straight (iff. He could speak with' somo knowledge' of the district for although ho 3iad° not been to Tokaanu ho bad been •round on the Taupo side,- and what had been said about tho importance or tho district as a tourist and health resort agreed with his own impressions. Ho was not ablo to say that the road would be formed' before Christmas. Part of the work would bo dono by prison labour. Dr. Newman: Are thoy tbero now? Mr. Herdman: Thoy won't bo there Jor two or. three weeks yet. Prison Labour. The Prime Minister said that these pood-conduct prisoners wero very usefully employed on plantation work, but tliero were times when it was not possible to employ them in that way and tiicv could be employed in making roads and traok-3. Tho" Government, however, did not intend to wait until the road bad been mado by prison labour. Mr. Dnthio suggested that the work of constructing the road should bo transferred from the Public Works Department to tho Tourist Department as it was a matter entirely apart from back-blocks development. An Important Road. Mr. Herdinan said that ho bad visited the district at Christmas timo, and recognised tho importance of the road from Waimarino. Tho Publin Works

Engineer iintil lately stationed in tho district was very enthusiastic about tho construction of tho road, and had prepared' plans' of tho four ' bridges required, Tho engineer, Mr. Herdmun added, , estimated that tho bridges could bo completed in from four to six months if tho money wero available, and suggested that contracts should bo let for their construction. Prison labour would not bo of any great value in this part of tho work. Portions of tho road, how-', ever, had to be reformed and widened, and stono had to bo procured and broken, and prisoners could, do all that sort of thing. Huts for tho men wero to have been ready by the end of March but they were not ready, yet. As soon as they were, tho prisoners would bo sent up in charge of somo reliable officer,'and a commencement would be mado 'upon tho work. Mr. Massey: As soon as tho bridges are mado cars could go through ? Mr. Herdman: I don't know that they could. It scorns , to mo that tho only question is whether the Government will provido a sufficient sum of money to build these bridges. Dr. Newman: It is the most important road in New Zealand, sir! Mr. Massey: I don't know that I am prepared to admit i that. Mr. Herdman said that he was deeply impressed with tho need for the road. As an additional reason in favour of completing tho road, Dr. Newman mentioned that the Tourist Department proposed to establish a mountain-house in tho Tongariro National Park. Mr. Massey; Your request will come before Cabinet, and I think it will be all right. ' ■ . ' ' .