TONGARIRO PARK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 299, 13 September 1919, Page 3

TONGARIRO PARK

REQUESTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER

. A deputation to urge speedy development work in connection with t:ho.Tongariro National Park was received yesterday morning by the Minister, in charge of the Tourist Department, the Hon. AW Noaworthy. Mr. ; R. W. Smith (Waimarino) introduced the deputation, which was attended'by the following members:—Dr. A. If. Newman, Messrs. G. It. Sykes. J, A. Nash, E. Newman, W; H. Field, W. T. Jennings, J. S. Dickson, and E. F. Bollard. ' Mr. J. A. Park, president of tho Ohakune Chamber of Commerce, said that their object was to a6k for the assistance of the Government, in the development of the Tongarrro National Pork. Tliey claimed that thexe was no scenery in New Zealand which could be compared with the park. Their request was that, there should be placed on tho Estimates, this . year a sum sufficient, to develop it as it ' should- be. developed. This done, they felt that the park would become, one of the greatest assets in New Zealand as a tourist resort. It contained ' everything calculated to appeal to the 16\-er of Nature, waterfalls, variety of fauna, etc. Those who had ascended the mountains Acclaimed the whole area as the finest in New Zealand. No .adequate development work -had yet been done, ,and it was felt that the time had come to do something in the matter. The scheme they haa in mind had the approval of all who had seen it. Auckland was very keen. There was there a eki-ing club, the members of which were in the habit of making* week-end trips to the mountains. They were in full accord with the members of tho deputation in 'the proposals " to be put before tho Minister. It was necessary to have a hermitage on the west side of the mountain. Tho silo proposed was about three miles from the Haunted Whare. It would, be necessary to effect 60me road construction in order to give access to it. The suggestion was that accommodation should oe "provided . for all those likely to visit the locality. 'The attractions of the spot were'such aS to appeifl lo people of all ages. 'There would bo plenty found desiring to spend week-ends there if the accommodation

were provided.' On the Ohakune side it v was proposed' to build an accommodation hut, of, say, three rooms. That would require a track,from the Ohalcuno Station of 1 about eight miles in length, while from the. suggested site the distance to the:'summit would be. roughly three miles. He desired to urge, the suitability of Ohakune as a "jumping-off" place for visitors.. In, the town there was already plenty of accommodation for them. By accepting and ' working out "tihis Boheme the linking up of the' park area with Wanganui' and the whole of-the Taranaki aistriot would be effected. Intending visitors would be able to get through' from Wanganui by a motor drive of about three hours and a half. It would also result in the provision of accommodation for the influx of visitors from abroad who might be expected if the park were properly developed and became, better known. The area had previously been under the controi of a board, when no progress 'had lieeij made. They were all pleased that it was now in the bands of the Tourist Department. It was suggested, that perhaps . a local board might be set up to assist the Department. It might also be of assistanco to establish) an advisory board. Mrt. J * A. Nosh,-M.P. : ,'speaking in his capacity as-Mayor of Palmerston North, said,that in connection with the -park afforestation was a thing which would require attention-in the near future. Mi'. Noswurthyi-1~ Quito agree with you.

With regard to the whole question, Mr. Nash said he had had a good deal of correspondence with .Mr.-J. H. Gunson, the Mayor, of Auckland, who was enthusiastically in favour of development work. It was to be hoped that now that tho people of both ends of the North Island . ..uiuV'"-wine together in advocacy of this ••• 7'*ho question would not lie allowed Ito lapse, but would be -pressed ■ forward. .. Mr. 0. E. Mackay, Mayor of Wanganui, . spoke strongly in:support of the objects of the deputation. Ho said . that the people of Wanganui were deeply interested, one reason being that they were to hanjjy to the area in question. Some of the most beautiful stretches of the river lay in that direction. Pipiriki could be reaohod from Ohakune, or Wai-' ninrino, by a short motor drive. Dr. A. K. Newman said that when, many years ago, he had suggested in Parliament that this area, should be purchased by the State, he was laughed down in the House. The late Mr. John' Ballancc had taken the matter up, however, and the lands were purchased. ' He suggested that the Government should pur-chase-the valloy containing the Ketetahi Hot Springs. The waters were, he affirmed, the most powerful! medicinally m tho Dominion, beating those of ltotorua, or anywhere else. The Maoris who owned the- land were ot present not willing to sell, but the idea might be kopt in nund. At any rate, the spring's could. not be taken away. He also suggested the pnrenase. of the. Hauhungatahi Range for addition to tho reserve area. „,¥.?• I l '- von -. Haast, representing the Ski-ing Club, said that he wished to advocate $he claims of thoso* who desiredto spend a holiday at the park, the.people, of New Zealand, and particularly those of moderate means. It wins an ideal holiday ground, especially for those who desired a change from sea-side conditions. ' Mr.'Nosworthy: It is the great national recreation ground. That is what it was meant for, is it not? (Hear, hear.) , Mr. von Haast said that the park would some day become the great centre for winter sports, ski-ing, skating, and climbing. He also/ pressed the suggestion for ■ the purchase of tho hot springs mentioned by Dr. Newman;. " ...... ■JFr. Nosworthy: What is the extent of the area .included? Dr. Newman: About 30 acres. The Minister here interposed that.it eoemed to him that the soundest policy was to purchase the land for ! necessary additions to the area first. It might bo necessary to spend the money- which otherwise might bo devoted to buildings in this way. could be erected later, when perhaps the opportunity to buy Sand might be lost if the action were delayed. • The requests preferred worq further supported by Messrs. A. J. Joblin (Tainape), W. 11, Field, E. Nowmaii, W. T. Jennings, R..F. Bollard, J. S. Dickson, Aid E. 0. Lightband (Ohakune). - Mr. Nosworthy, in reply, said that he wished to agsuro the deputation that even though he was a South Islander, he was prepared to give overy consideration to the claim* of tho North, and to do what was fair by them, ile was quite in actord with all that had been said. Ho was out to secure everything for which the money was available, and to develop it as fast a? possible. .As regarded tho reservation of Crown lands, that was ■ an easy matter. Tho area of Native land needed to make tho park completo com,O(ILnCTCS ' , n pi the cost would lie <£8500. The need to secure this land was more pressing than the call for tho erection of building. He did not know what money would be available: he would hnio to conmilt his colleagues, But they could depend upon him to do all that ho could in the direction of meeting, the wishos of the deputation.