SEASIDE RESORTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1939, 13 February 1919, Page 2

SEASIDE RESORTS.

THE Olaki seaside resort has not the natural advantages of the local seaside, yet, by the enterprise of one man, Mr Byron Brown, it has come into public prominence and popularity at a bound. This enterprising Otaki citizen acquired an area of land near the ocean beach, formed and metalled a road at considerable expense almo.-i from tin* town.'.hip to (he ocean beach. About a quarter of a mile from the breakers he erected whal is known as a kiosk. It consists of two blocks of buildings. One block contains a large number of furnished bedrooms and sitting rooms, with a verandah running right round, and

looking into an open space, neatly laid out in garden plots. The other building consists of a spacious din-ing-room, kitchen and attendants’ quarters. The catering and conveniences are on modern lines. The dining-room is also used for social purposes during the evenings. The open beach is considered safe for surf bathing, and upon the occasiol* of our visit, presented quite an animated scene. Mr Brown is spending a large sum of-money in planting shelter bells, which in the years to come will break the present barren outlook. A line tennis court is connected with the resort, and the social life is well catered for. Another feature of the accommodation is the erection of two Maori whares, built in the orthodox style. We are informed that the applications for accommodation from all parts of the district was far in excess of that provided. The resort is going to lie a very valuable asset to Otitki, and is a 'monument to (he enterprise of the founder.

NOW, we said at the beginning that the Olaki resort had i\ot Use natural advantages of the local seaside. Here we have good access a magnililicent river frontage, peri'eclly sale for bathing and boating, a sea beach unequalled in any part of the Dominion for bathing, sheltered nooks for dwellings, and plenty of level (dots for recreation. The difference between Olaki and Fox ton is that the latter resort has become a village settlement, with individual house-owners. What is required to bring the resort up-to-date is for some one to erect a kiosk on the Otaki lines for the accommodation of casual and week-end visitors, it would meet a present demand, and would be a profitable undertaking.