The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1912. OUR SCENIC ASSETS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 147, 8 November 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1912. OUR SCENIC ASSETS.

We Lope that the meeting that is to be held to-night in the Town Hall tor the purpose of submitting to the citizens the basis of an association for the purpose of advertising and bringing under the notice of tourists and holiday makers the scenic attractions of New Plymouth and the surrounding district will bo largely attended. It is really quite time that we woke up a little more widely to the fact that Nature has blessed us to a quite exceptional extent in the seattering of her primrose ways, j,nd that she is now looking to us to bring before an appreciative public a revelation of our beauties'. Our magnificent Park is, of course, widely known throughout Australasia, but our advertisement practically stops at that, save that it is known that New Plymouth is the centre, so far as Taranaki is concerned, of many historic Maori engagements, and is rich in these rapidly-dying associations. All round the district, too, pretty drives to points of scenic interest are available, even without calling upon the resources of that serene and perpetual consolation and inspiration— the mounI'tain, the facilities for the enjoyment of the scenic wonders of which have been lately improved by the erection of an up-to-date and comfortable hostel. We can give our visitors, too, plenty ; of idle relaxation for a lazy week or two's holiday, with golf and bowls, and tennis and fishing, and boating, as well as the social attractions that pertain to bridge and other evening "calls." Then there is the exploitation of the beautiful scenery that lies between Onaero and the Mokau, the views from the road over Mt. Messenger being equal to the finest in New Zealand, j Those who have travelled through the I district go further, and state that when once the Mokau is reached the scenery on the river is superior to that on the Wanganui. Rising from the still reaches of the river the gorgeous bush soars up tier upon tier on either side in restful terraces of shaded green, less monotonous and less "same" in its ever-changing variety to the frowning and precipitous cliffs of the Wanganui. At present, motor launches can run up the river for a distance of about 30 miles, but to see the very best of its scenery should journey on a further 20 miles to Totoro, which would bring them within an hour and a-half motor drive from To Kuiti, and so within easy distance of the famous caves of Waitomo. To effect this. however, the river would require snagging, and it is estimated that this would cost a sum of £SOO. This is a workthat the Government might well be call-

Ed upon to undertake, as in the natural development of the district the river will shortly be the highway for the settlers on the Mokau and Mohakatino blocks that are at present being surveyed pre- | paratory to being thrown open for settlement. With the river properly snagged an admirable route could be obtained from New Plymouth through to Mokau, up the river to Totoro, thence to the Waitomo Caves, and so on to Botorua. This would make a tourist route which would inevitably become one of the most popular in the Dominion. In the meantime, however, to-night's meeting proposes to walk before it runs. The programme as suggested is as follows: The first year's work will include the appointment of a permanent secretary, with a central enquiry bureau, the issue of leaflets describing Mount Egmont, the Mokau river and the general attractions and advantages of New Plymouth, and also an advertising campaign in all the leading papers of the North Island, and maybe in the South Island. This programme, of course, cannot be given practical effect to without the necessary sinews of war, and it will be necessary for the district to find £250 to £3OO a year for the next three years if the scheme is to be adequately and faithfully administered. There should be no difficulty whatever in raising this sum fcy voluntary contribution, subscription, and by means of entertainments and social functions. Eeduced to its most sordid terms, the expenditure would be a mere casting of bread upon the waters, but we have still faith enough in the public-spiritedness of the district to believe that this work will be cheerfully undertaken, in all our interests, without any suggestion that a negotiable security must be offered for the pence contributed. Several of those interested have already offered substantial subscriptions, and Ave shall hope to see these krgely augmented at the meeting to-night.