Old New Plymouth.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7944, 6 October 1905, Page 2

Old New Plymouth.

WE CHANGE WITH TIME. Old residents of the town will miss om of the most familiar landmarks in the early (lays, namely, Mount Eliot (opposite the railway station), the hill having been completely demolished for Idling purposes. Where the ancient old mound originally, stood is now converted into a linci level block for building purposes. When the pakeha settled in New Plymouth the site accommodated a nourishing Maori pah, being accessible ti« thenalivcs' fishing grounds. It is interesting to rtcall' that Mr »'. A. Carringlon, who carried oul the first survey of llm town nitc, was instrueted, when laying out the stree'.s, not tii oflend the Maori susceptibi'it'os by interfering with their rights of occupation, i.nd this to a large extent • ccuuuls for the narrow and sinuous streets which have worried our councillors. The artistic winding of Young Street near the brewery is an instance in point, for a straight thoroughfare would have encroached on the ps|h. Since that dale the public have been apt to anathematise the original surveyor for tire defects in laying out- the town, hut he,performed his troublesome task to the best' advantage in view of the orders from headquarters. As ii was, he had some friction with the nafivcs,. when conducting his work, hoth the Mount Eliot pah, and the Ka Wau pah, which is close to where the gasworks are erected, being obstacles in bi.s path. It can truly be said that the lot of a surveyor in the early days was not a happy one. The o'd pah has witnessed amazing change and development. When vacated by the Maoris, the site was utilised by the ' Imperial military authorities, the Harbour Hoard, and the colonial military authorities. The shipping was at that time conducted in the open roadstead, opposite the present railway station yards, where, iii the days of warfare, it was a common sight to see numerous steamers and sailing! vessels anchored, landing stores for the Imperial troops and armed settlers, combatting the Maori uprising. It was here that the present Mayor of the iown (Mr R. Cock) spent his youth, his father being connected with the Harbour Board service. "Dick" can tell many a sportful reminiscence of his boyhood days on old Mount Eliot, which is no more.