The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1903. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 234, 30 October 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1903. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.

It is doubtful if any part of New Z-aland, of the same area, contains the same attractions for tourists as Tarana'.d. It is, however, quite certain thai no part of New Zoiland, with half the attractions possessed by Taranaki, receives eo little attention from tourists. Tbe chief cause of this is the fact that the attractions of Taranaki are so little known. It is exceedingly satisfactory, therefore, to notice efforts are to be made to remove this ignorance, and bring the undoubted claims of the district before the touring public. For dealing with this matter in a really practical manner, New Plymouth is indebted to Mr C. Carter, who has succeeded ia making the Borough Council realise the advisability of moving in this matter, and there is every reason to believe that the action taken by the municipal authorities will bear fruit. Mr Carter, wisely we think, confined h:ius«!f ou Mocifiay evening to the attractions of the Mokau ; but tho fact that Taranaki contains so many other attractions ia an additional reason why the development of the Mokau should be energetically fetkoa up. The best known, and probably the chief attraction to Taranaki, is Mount Egmont, but that ia cot made half as attractive as it might, and we hope soon will be.- Good roads and good, in fact, first-class accommodation are a necessity to the pcopsr development of the tourist traffic to the mountain, another very great attraction is the splendid well-stocked, streams which are to be found allround the mountain, and which ar9 not half as well-known as they should bo. A Tourists' Guidp, lately issued by the Tourist Department, while giving a list of fishing streams of the colony, actually omitted to mention a single Taranaki stream. Still another great attraction to Taranaki is its historic spots. All round the mountain lie the battle fields of the late struggle between the Maori and the pakeha, many of which were baptised with the blood of heroes as noblu as fell in any fight where the supremacy of the British Empire was involved. In our churche?, our graveyards, atid on monuments of stone their memory is preserved, Yet another attraction is the 150 miles of coastline, which is not wanting in variety and charms to lovers of seascape. In fact, a drive from tho mouth of the Mokau river on tbe north to the Patea river on the south, along the coast road, present attractions and enjoyment to be found in few places in the colony. An excellent road for any j class of vehicle, the best of accommo-! dation, and an infinite variety of scenery j this route is bound to become extremely popular in the near future. In addition to those we have mentioned, the Mokau river has a charm all its owr, tho special features of which we pointed out a short time back when referring to tbe Bill Mr Jennings, tha member for Egmont, has introduced into/the House. To make its attractions available efforts Bhou'd be made to induce the Tourist Department to subsidise a ■jhuitable coach from Waiiara to Mokau, J erect and maintain suitable accom- | modatiou houses at Mckau Ferry and j up the river, at the head of navigation, j and put a suitable steamer ou the river, Indeed if the Tourist Department took this matter in hand it would soon be self-supporting. If access was alto given to the central railway line at, Mokau station and by way of the Ohura Koad from Stratford a round trip could be taken, which for variety of scenery would be uneqruled anywhere. Now that this question ban been raifctd we hops it -will D „ dropped until by continuous and per ei.sfeiifc efforts ifce claims of Taranaki to tho special consideration of the Tourist Department are recognised.