MOTU AND OTHER SCENERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1083, 29 December 1903, Page 1

MOTU AND OTHER SCENERY.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sir,—lt would seem that Motu and its scenery have been a little over-rated, or rather over advertised of lato, and when we hear of the so-called 'Whiuray Park described as a magnificent scenic asset it is obvious that patience has ceased to be a virtue. The said park is just an ordinary piece of rough bush country, not greatly differing from hundreds of thousands of similar acres which are round it. The Motu fall is a small drop of about 12 feet, with very little water gomg over it escept in timo of flood, when tho fall almost disappears. The Motu itself is a very ordinary bush settlement, ten years behind Mangatu a 3 far as progress is concerned, and is connectedjwith Gisborne for a great part of tho distance by a series of excavations which it would be gross flattery to call a road.

Nevertheless there is grand scenery to be viewed iu the district. Being no great lover of Nature unadorned, my own selections for first place in beauty would be the view from the top of Gray’s Hill; Whatatutu, from the edge of the second terraco ; and for a seascape, the outlook from the hills above Paritu. As for waterfalls, I believe the fall in the Wharc-kopae, Dear Makaretu, to be one of the most beautiful in New Zealand. This fall is only thirty miles from towD, very easily getatable, and yet how many Gisborne people have seen or even heard of it ? And for other scenes well worth the visiting by the tourist there are within easy reach the river road between Hangaroa and Tiniroto, the Waipaoa and Arowhana in the background, and especially for the photographer the gorge of the Kaikoura and the lake and pinnacles on Mr Coop’s property at Nuhaka.—l am, &c., Traveller.