Tourist Attraction.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 262, 4 December 1903, Page 3

Tourist Attraction.

MOUNT. EGMONT AND THE MOKAU. Some 'discussion took place on Wednesday evening, at the Chamber of Commerce meeting, on the question of popularising the tourist (attractions of Taraiiaki. Mention was made of the Mokau, but members did not seem to have very clear ideas as to what "could be done to adequately develop this fine asset. However, as Sir Joseph W-aid was expected to he in the district shortly it was decided to wait for his arrival before discussing) the subject more fully.

Any scheme, to be thoroughly successful, must include provision for tourists going up the river to get right through to Te Kuiti. Regarding Mount. Kgiuont, hr.wever, those present found no di!lieU|ty in expressing the opinion that something should be done to popularise this special resort. Mr Samuel said a point that should be recognised at once was the need of accommodation ob the slopes of the mountain. The present house was a disgrace and certainly did not afford that degree of comfort which the real tourist expected. The list of visitors for past seasons showed a lamentable scarcity of names of people from outside the colony. An up-to-date hotel was an absolute necessity, and now there was no possible chance of getting a license for such a place. People travelling would not put up with old Taranaki notions of accommodation; they wanted comfort, and the sooner the people here recognised that fact the better.

In the course of a general discusI sion it was stated that a scheme now under consideration, for which Government assistance was available, provided for a new house on the the ranges, at the head of an old track from the Mangorei. This secured a refcid f|rpide of 1 in 20, n'nd avoided crossing the swamp. By "building* a dam the swamp could be turndd into a l|ake which could ):fc stocked with fish. The track to the mountain top was somewhat more difficult, but that was not considered an unsurmountnble difficulty. All the other Hacks could be connected with this one. The matter was left in the hands of the committee already dealing with it, a recommendation to display greater activity being passed. The Government grant available for this work id £430.