ON WAITANGI ESTATE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1934, Page 5

ON WAITANGI ESTATE

DIRECTION DIAL TO BE BUILT

RESIDENCY SOUVENIRS

(Special to tha "Evenlni Post.") AUCKLAND, January: 25. " On Mount Bledisloe, standing on the skyline behind the mouth of the river on the Waitangi Estate, about two miles from the bridge across . the stroam, a direction dial Similar to that on Mount Eden, Auckland, is to * be erected. As a road has been formed up to the summit and a grand view is obtained, the spof is likely to 1)0 visited by thousands of motorists. Tho dial will be mounted.-on a pedestal of hewn stone and will be 3ft 6in in diameter and 3ft Tiigh. The top portion will have let into it on' tho south sido an inscription plate, and besides the ordinary directions that will.be shown on the dial, a brass plate is to be mounted on the north sido of tho top; giving the direction of London through the centre of the globe,, which is Bdeg 23min true inclination from the perpendicular. Tho dial is to bo made of porcelain, and tho plan of this has already been forwarded to London for! manufacture. The Waitangi Trust Board has utilised the sound portions of the old'timber that camo out of tho original Residency by having it made into souvenirs in tho shape of eggcups) paperweights, and walking-sticks,- and these will bo on salo at the Residency during the celebrations. These, together, with a souvenir guide booklet, which will also be on sale, will give -,th« public something permanent as a reminder of tho birth of New Zealand. The wooden articles will all be stamped ■Waitangi, 1840. The work of cleaning up the area around tho Residency ia being carried out by a gang of Maoris. A permanent motor camp on . the north side "of tho river is being established. A Toad has been formed to the site and, in addition, a road has ' been made to tho crown of the kill' above, so that there is no chance of tha site evor becoming congested. Accommodation at all the1 hotels' within easy distance of Waitangi has' boon booked, and there have been him-, flreds of inquiries that have had to be declined. For the convenience of visitors two canteens are being- built. . On the days of tho celebration! special trains will be run from Whangarei, leaving in ths Btorninf . and returning at night, _ - - •