AMAZING PROGRESS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4969, 3 May 1926, Page 4

AMAZING PROGRESS.

PLAINS SEASIDE RESORT. DOINGS AT NBWi BRIGHTON. Although it: te one of tlfe oldest settlements along the Hauraki Gulf, and at one time counted itp native population in thousand's, New Brighton Was, until quite recently, haydly on the map. Nov? it promises in a very s-lmrt time to bcconc a very popular seaside resort. For very many’■years there has been an hotel In the place, if “hotel” can be the name fapp.ied to the oneroomed barnlike building that served as, post office, general store, drapery and bay-ropm, where ajnid the accumulation of fil.th for years the few settlers land the maniy Maoris of the .district procured all their requirements. Some months ago the property was purchased by an enterprising business man, and the change he bias ma.de in the district in the short time he lias been there is little short of amazing. A new hotel and store was built on a better site and fitted up on tne most modern linesi to attract the travelling public land cater for those who desire a quiet holiday by the sea. A public reserve' was. set aside for picnickers ; a motorists’ camping site was provided, two- bathing sheds erected,- two splendid tennis courts laid down, and the construction of a; concrete cricket pitch, ,‘ahd a ninehole golf links is planned. In fact, everything that money can do to improve the natural advantages of the place is receiving consideration, for it is hoped to make the place ,a pleasure resort for thp rich and attractive to all classes. Already • some measure of success has been attained, and alterations and enlargemetns to. the hotel will! be undertaken during the slack season. During the past; summer New Brighton was very popular witli motorists. Plajinsi people visited the place in large numbers every weekend, as , also did motorists from Pokeno and Pukekohe. Several automobile associations organised’ club runs to the resort. Up to the present New Brighton hasi been only a summer resort on account of the impassible nature of the clay roa;ds during the wet months, but here, again, the business enterprise of the hotelkeeper has become evident. Finding .that the settlers of the district would itot support a loan for metalling the main road to Auckland, contending that what had served them for so many years would be good enough for the future, he called for donations fo r the purpose, a.nd when only £lO was forthcoming he made this, up to £lOO, bb-. tained a. £ for £ subsidy from the Franklin County and a £ fo r £ subsidy from ’the Public. Works Department

on the £2OO, A Ngatea settler who owns land in the district undertook as his contributoin to metal the clay portion of the rdad where required for bare wages and expenses. Thus there is now a good road all the way from New Brighton to the main highway at Mangatawhiri, and it will be passable all the winter, being probably the only road toi be so. from Pokeno to the coast.

Unfortunately for Plains motorists, the clay road from near the Hauraki Plains County boundary to Miranda will prevent them from using this newly metalled r a,d. This stretch of road is controlled by three local bodies, and the financing of a- metalling proposition m!ay be difficult; but it is likely that a means will.be found, as the many users will demand! something better than at present exists. It will not be many years before a road from Kaiaua. round the coast to Clevedon will be. completed, and this should be a very popular one with motorists travelling between the Thames Valley and Auckland. /

A very large number of Plains settlers have, secured quiarter-ccre building sites along the coast near New Brighton, a.nd they will no dtoub.t cause pressure to be brought to’have something done.