INTERESTING SCHEME FOR NATIVE VILLAGES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 21, 17 September 1931, Page 4

INTERESTING SCHEME FOR NATIVE VILLAGES

SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS TO OHINEMUTU AND WHAKA PROMENADE BY UTUHINA A particularly 'interesting section of the beautifying plan which Mr. F. Tschopp, the landscape architect has submitted to the Rotorua Borough Councii, is that relating to the .treatment of the two native villages at Whakarewarewa and Ohinemutu. In his suggestions, Mr. Tschopp, stresses the necessity for a greater emphasis upon the typically Maori aspect of the villages and expresses an opinion that a definite need exists for the Maoris living in the two pas to preserve their native arts and crafts to a greater degree than appeared to have been done so far. An interesting proposal is also advanced for the lay-oiit of an attractive promenade beside the Utuhina stream. "From a tourist point of view there is nothing besides thermal activity which will to a similar degree eaptivate his curiosity and fancy, as the picturesaueness of the native life," says Mr. Tschopp. "One has only to go to the Fijian Islands to see, that if the tourists have any time at all to spend on shore, they will invariably hire a car and drive to the native villages, which are yet partly inhabited and in a wonderful state of preservation. "Psychologically, the same principles may be applied to the local villages. Not that I would for a momsnt propose to suggest that the natives should live in similar habitat.ons, or go back to the former ways of living. Far from it. But in my opinion the need exists for the natives to preserve their native arts and crafts to a greater degree than which appears to have been done so far. "A highly effective and desirable improvement would be to gradually embellish each house with the traditional barge boards, carved in Maori fashion, also the reed work should find its appropriate place in a more general use. To brighten the atmosphere, the villages should be property enhanced with native trees and shrubs, judicially placed.

Whaka Village At Whakarewarewa there is an obvious necessity for an active i ground-keeper engaged on full-time ! work, the report continues. Fences and railings should he constructed with rustic wood. A big improve- | ment would be to replace the low , wooden bridge leading to the Spout Baths with a bridge of rock masonry; j culveits to be provided for the small I streams. j The Maggie Papakura Memorial, I Mr. Tschopp considers, could be adI mirablj^ improved by laying the steps in stone. Along the side of the road bordering the Memorial, a retaining wall might be built and the grade : raised by fillings to the ex'sting level and plantir.g with low growing plants as Hebes (Koromikas) or Gaultherias (Niniwas). The river banks on the south side should be planted with groups of native trees and shrubs. At Ohinemutu Dealing with Ohinemutu village, Mr. Tschopp, expressed the opinion that the village should be brought into harmony with the future Lake front reserve by extending a park effect along the lake shore where it is fnnged by the pa. "The beautifying work going on in Ohinemutu is commendable and reflects credit on the person in charge and the. inhabitants as a whole. The carved figures utilised for posts, bell supports, etc. are a step in the right direction to lend the pa an interesting native atmosphere, he states. Exotic deciduous trees are ineongruous, the report states, and should b9 banned from the pa and replaced with native plants. Soil and subterranean activities permiting, planting operations with native plants should be extended over the whole area. New Bathing Sheds "Personally, I am not in favour of "bathing sheds which have recently been constructed. One or two firstclass sheds, constructed in Maori style, would, in my opinion, he ample to provide seclusion for the adult bathers," Mr. Tschopp continues. "To again enxphasise my suggestion, the pa should be so developed to induce the vis;tor to see not only the thermal attractions but something of its native life, little though it may be. Such is done in highly developed and patronised resorts, and there appears to be no reason why this cannot be done here. After all, it is for the natives' benefit as mueh as the town and countrv as a whole."

Utuibma Stream Dealing with the Utuhina Stream, Mr. Tschopp states, that an exceedingly fine suggestion came forward from His Worship the Mayor to convert the east side of the Utuhina Stream from the main road to the Horohoro road into a half chain wide promenade for pedestrians and equestrians only. "It should not require a special emphasis to explain that such a park would be a splendid asset and could be made to form a coherent part with the other beautification proposrds for eventual adaption. For residents and visitors it would be an inducement to seek the beauty and quietness of the rural landscape, to escape from ihe hustle and bustle of the everyday life," Mr. Tschopp comments upon this suggestion. Imviting Promenade "This promenade could be made very inviting by running a path along the irregular lines of the stream after deviating from it temporarily to again meet it at some interesting view point. The bridle path may be arranged on similar lines, occasionally crossing the foothpath on places where the latter leads to the stream. Places should be reserved for pienicers with fire pits constructed of local stone, in uncoursed rubble masonry; seats to be placed in such spaees, as well as on selected points along the walk. The planting should he strictly informal to harmonise with the irregularity of the stream course and the environment as a whole. A proper plan would be much more satisfactory to work from than a description, but it may be added that native plant materials should necessarily he used for this treatment. Both footpath and bridle path should be well drained; the former to have the ordinary dirt surface and the latter a heavy dressing of pumice."