A VERDANT LAND

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 720, 21 December 1933, Page 6

A VERDANT LAND

UREWERA BUSH PLEASANT CAMPING SPOTS ON THE UPPER WHIRINAKI PRESERVING THE FORESTS A w-ealth of correspondence has been evoked by the eternal "butohery .taking place in that almost unknown land the Urewera. On this matter there can be no debate. All agree on the. point that to interfere with the protective forest cover of the sources of the numerous streams that flow to the Bay of Plenty, would ultimately end in disaster. It is not proposed to discuss this aspect of the question. The roading of the wonderful scenic region that lies among the wild mountaino.us country of the Urewera has opened up an attrac•tion to tourists and New Zealanders v/hich is almost unique. To the energy and foresight of the •Puhlic Works Department officers, this may justly be accredited. On the main highway that leads to the .take off to the Kaingaroa Plains much has been done. The. margins of excavations and filliriigs — the raw edges of eoiiStruction — jhave been isown with grasses, white clover, brown top and fescue. This ha.s had a wonderful take, and in a few years grass most economical and effective of bonds, will have been firmly es'tablished. This will give security to the shouldei's of the road, and remove the unsightly bareness of pumice margins. Transformation Scheme Over the. plains the road is in splendid order but the great transformation scene is taking place betiween Murupara and Te Whaiti. Here, under the Public W;orks Department officers, relief men on piece work have effeeted marvels. The whole length has now no dangerous corners to a motorist who obeys the laws of the road. Every bend has a wide c-amorn nf

* Formiiig tlie Road The road ibed has been made possible by the utilisation of shingle deposits in the Whirinaki above Te Whaiti. These deposdts are practically inexhaustible and easily accessible. The gravel is an almost perfect roading material, hard shingle and sharp heavy sands. It hinds under heavy traffic and is almost dustless. From Te Whaiti, inwards the road has been widened, shouldered up and metalled for five miles and the work is proceeding at the rate of some four chains a day. It is a good and permanent job. The traveller can easily visualise what the continuation of .such u road must mean to New Zealand. It opens up the most gorgeous mountain, forest and lake scenery of the •North Island. Narro.w winding ill kept roads may be picturesque, but they are not popular with the motorist, who does not subscribe to the motto "Live Dangerously." With a highway stretching through to Lake Waikaremoana built as the Te Whaiti section is being built, the Dominion will have a most valuable asset. j A factor that makes for the enhanced value of this road is the opening of the Te Teko-Galatea road through the valley of the Rangitaiki, past the frowning bluff that used to be an insuperable ban to inland traffic. - ■ T,he waters of the upper Whirinaki run over shingle beds of brown rock, clean, cool and beautiful. Ihey abound in trout in the very pink of condition. Sites for camping among willow and .gloriously verdant hawthorn, abound It is an ideal spot to forget cares, business worries and renew youth.