New Chateau Unsurpassed In the World

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 811, 4 November 1929, Page 1

New Chateau Unsurpassed In the World

Opening Ceremony at National Park “DIGNIFIED BEAUTY” (THE SUN’S Special Representative) THE CHATEAU, Today. “Unsurpassed in the world.” That was the description applied by Mr. J. B. Thomson, C.8.E., chairman of the Tongariro National Park Board, this afternoon in officially declaring open Chateau Tongariro to the tourists of the world. The New Zealand Government was represented at the ceremony by the Hon. J. B. Donald, Postmaster-General. Mr. Thomson expressed pleasure at the compliment extended to the board in asking the chairman to perform the opening ceremony. The anticipations they all had felt were more than realised in the stately Chateau building. There was an absence of ostentation and glitter in the Chateau Tongariro, and the keynote was a dignified beauty, and comfort. The building, except perhaps in size, was unexcelled in Australia and New Zealand, I-Ie paid a tribute to the brilliant work of Mr. Herbert Hall, of Timaru, the architect, and to the Fletcher Construction Company, which had completed the work in record time. He traced the policy of the Park Board and the long negotiations leading to the formation of the Tongariro Park Tourist Company and paid a tribute to the work and capabilities of Mr. W. L. Wigley, who was now

associated with both the Hermitage at Mount Cook and the Chateau. “This wonderful park of ours with its snowy mountains, volcano, hot springs and turbulent streams, its fishing and winter sports is unsurpassed in the world,” he said, “and we should all feel pride of ownership in such attractions. Other lands envied New Zealand these possessions. Mr. Stanley Baldwin, speaking at Cardiff, had exhorted the Welshmen to emulate New Zealand in regard to setting aside national parks. I myself received a letter from the ‘Geographical Review’ praising New Zealand for its national spirit toward national parks. Not even the United States can boast the great variety of features m its public playgrounds that we in New Zealand possess. Successive Governments have worked to increase our holding of natural parks, scenic reserves and domains, the total of which in the Dominion now represents 3,340,000 acres.” Mr. Thomson added a plea for the continued support by the public of the Tourist Company, whose vision and pluck had made available a service unparalleled in the world. The fortunes of the Tongariro Park Board were bound up in those of the Tourist Company. The Chateau had been

fitted out at a total cost of £IOO,OOO, the building, lighting, water supply and responsible expenditure cost £72,259, lodges, garages and the car ramp to the Chateau £5,580, golf links, tennis courts and bowling greens would cost £5,000, the manager’s house and other buildings £2,661, and the furnishings for the Chateau and lodges £14,500. In addition to declaring the Chateau open Mr. Thomson unveiled a tablet to commemorate Te Hue Hue Tukino, popularly known as Horonuku, whose gift of land had formed the nucleus of the park. In doing so he pointed out that the board desired that this handsome gift should be fittingly commemorated.