PROSPEROUS WAIHI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 814, 7 November 1929, Page 7

PROSPEROUS WAIHI

Mr. Mayor Says —

TOWN WITH A ROMANTIC HISTORY IDEAL FOR SUMMER HOLIDAY The holiday .season is approaching and many Aucklanders tcho do not intend to travel far afield will be wondering which part of the province ' holds the mostattraction for them,. We have invited the Mayors of the chief Boroughs outside Auckland and its immediate environs to contribute articles setting forth the holiday attractions of their towns. The Mayors (and, in some cases, chairmen of town boards) have responded cordially to THE SUH’S invitation. Each, in turn, i cill advocate the charms of his town. No. 2. (By Mr. W. M. WALLNUTT, Mayor of Waihi) 'J'O holiday-makers, Waihi possesses two outstanding centres of attraction —its world-famous mine, and its health resort, popularly known as the Waihi Beach, The latter possesses a combination of the advantages of some of the principal resorts of the Homeland. Scarborough is claimed to be the Children's Paradise, Harrowgate is summed up as offering the money-and-time-saving proposition of a "cure” and a holiday combined; the Mecca of the ailing, the playground of the robust. Yarmouth is noted for its health-giving breezes and invigorating air.

Waihi’s ocean, surf-bathing beach, with its six miles of gradually sloping and firm white sand; its green hillsides with beautiful pohutukawa trees —a blaze of red in season—embraces all these essentials of the seaside. The resort possesses a combination of countryside and seaside, not usually met with in ocean beaches. It is 76 acres in extent, and lies six miles (over good metalled road) from Waihi. There is a regular bus service, a post office, telephone bureau, stores and dining rooms. It is undoubtedly a Children’s Paradise. It provides a real holiday, and, like Felixstowe, it gives to the tired rest and recuperation. The beach is within easy distance of the Waikato, Piako, Hauraki Plains and Auckland. The erection of an up-to-date school makes it possible for families to remain after the school vacation and enjoy the real summer weather. Sparkling seas and Pacific rollers, for the exciting sport of riding the breakers on surf-boards, invite you to this ideal resort, and cars and buses will run you out in quick time from the town. Ideal camping grounds are available at the beach, including sections for the erection of bungalows. A line to the caretaker will secure, by return mail, all necessary information. The historical associations of the Waihi Beach are exceedingly interesting. Very few can realise that in the past ages it was a thickly populated centre of the native race, the manufacture of stone axes being the principal industry, trading with the natives of the interior in necessary commodities being carried out. The remains of these workshops have been discovered in several locations toward the Bowentown end of the beach. Mayor Island (Tuhua) lies straight off the Waihi Beach, and is rapidly becoming a popular centre for swordfish and mako shark fishing, schnapper and hapuka (groper) being also found in abundance. In ancient times the island was the centre from which the incursions of the Ngapuhi fighting men in their war canoes were made upon the natives of the Bay of Plenty. Traces of the whaling, and also of the milling, industry have been found on the island. Waihi Beach was the takingoff ground of the invading chief, who, with his hostile warriors, landed on Slipper Island (to be seen from the beach), and carried out a ruthless massacre of men, women and children. The Waihi mine carries with it a romantic history, and a visit to the Pukewa Hill, better known as the Martha Hill, should be included in the itinerary of the holiday-maker. Traces of the old workings of the days of 1878, when two lone prospectors discovered the outcrop of the famous Martha lode, may be seen to this day. Here is one small area, one hole in the ground that has turned out bullion valued at £16,000,000! Surely the Waihi district has not been milked dry of its precious metal? At any rate there are those that are confident that the mining industry of Waihi can arise like the phoenix from its ashes, and that a new Waihi shall be born again.

Since restoration was carried in the “dry” electorate of Ohinemuri, Waihi has becomfe possessed of four hotels of a high standard, and like all the hotels in Ohinemuri—thanks to a discerning licensing bench—can supply firstclass accommodation. Visitors to the town have the advantages of a Ladies’ Rest Room and Plunket Room. Waibi's rapidly-increasing farming industry is causing a pleasing transformation of the surrounding country. We invite the camper and holiday-maker to visit the town and its health resort. Come to Waihi. You will not be disappointed !