OUR THERMAL AND SCENIC ATTRACTIONS

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 35, 10 September 1952, Page 1

OUR THERMAL AND SCENIC ATTRACTIONS

TOURIST DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR INTERVIEWED "I do not agree with what Mr W. j. Stevens said at the Taupo Businessmen's Association meeting recently on the subject of preserv-, ing the thermal activity of Wairakei and the river seenery," said Mr R. W. Marshall, Editor of the Tourist and Publicity department in an interview with our representative last week. "The thermal activity is imique, whilst there is plenty of river scenery even though it is not aiways as accessible as the Huka | Falls and the Aratiatia Rapids. In the Tourist Department we have to view these matters from a national viewpoint. We do not wish to lose any of these attractions, but although we appreciate that the river scenery might appear to be the greater loss to Taupo, it would be far more serious from the tourist viewpoint to lose the thermal sight. We can only hope that we shall not lose either*" Whilst discussing this subject Mr Marshall suggested that in the event of the river attractions being preserved, the work done on the roads in the district would be most valuable as it would enable the department to arrange a round trip from Taupo and Wairakei taking in the Falls and the Rapids and returning via the Spa Road. To put this into effect, H would of course be necessary to retain the Bailey Bridge over the gorge, which is not out of place in this setting. It would also be most desirable if the local authorities could use their influence to see that the tracks of the various sight-seeing places at the Rapids are properly bull-dozed and treated with pumice before tbey become a sea of mud. Asked whether fthere was any notieeable reduction in the thermal activity since the commencement of the boring for geo-thermal activity since the commencement of the boring for geo-thermal power, Mr Marshall stated that the department were watching this very closely and viewed the possibility with great concern, but that so far there had been litfcle or no visible effect on the sights in the yalleyl Mr Marshall was on annual leave at Wairakei last week, but nevertheless was kept very busy checking over the thermal bores and sights, and interviewing local people, as well as being interviewed by the Times representative.