Motuihi Island Now Available

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 543, 21 December 1928, Page 1

Motuihi Island Now Available

NO PUBLIC PICNICS ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO-DAY Arrangements by which launch and private picnics, as distinct from organised picnics, will be able to use Motuihi Island beaches during the Christmas and New Year holidays, were made during an official visit to the island this morning. At the island, City Council, Health, and Agricultural Department representatives held a conference after viewing the magnificent shell-sand beaches which are almost unknown to the majority of Aucklanders, though they are within an hour of the city. The visitors to-day included the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, Crs. W. Casey, J. B. Paterson, E. J. Phelan, J. Donald and G. Newcombe, the town clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, Dr. Hughes, of the Health Department, and Mr. ">Y. T. Collins, of the Agricultural Department, Press representatives and Radio Films Ltd., taking pictues for the Government Publicity Department. The trip was made in a launch lent by the Harbour Board. Immediately on landing the party visited +he two beaches, which are accessible from the wharf, and then walked up a pretty road bordered with plantations to the high land from which several other beaches could be seen. After the conference which followed, the Mayor stated: “We have arranged that the beaches, and the beaches only, will be open to the public for Christmas and the holidays. Owing to the necessary arrangements f o be made, no organised picnics will be allowed to visit the island /until the council gives notice, and organised picnics will then have to get their permits from the council before going to the island. “Notices will be displayed showing the limits beyond which parties going on the beaches from yachts and launches may not go, and we will have patrols to see that the people observe these. “If the warnings are not observed there is a great danger that the city will lose the park altogether.” “No water will be available on the island. Probably there will be a temporary stall to sell soft drinks, 61 While the party was on the island a temporary caretaker to look after the council’s interests was appointed, and arrangements were made for an immediate start on 22 chains of iron and wire fencing to cut off the quarantine station. It is questionable whether any hardships will be inflicted by the prohibition in the meantime of organised picnics, as it is only at special and short periods that a ferry boat could tie up to the wharf. When the island is finally handed over as a marine park tlie City Council will have to remedy this, but nothing can be done this summer.