HISTORICAL SPOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1921, Page 6

HISTORICAL SPOT.

SOUTH TARANAKI ASSET. Turutuni-Mokai is one of the most historical and interesting spots in South Taranaki, and the people of Hawera are proposing to develop the place, and on Wednesday afternoon a number of citizens were taken out by the Hawera taxi proprietors free of cost. The party first assembled on the site of the old redoubt—the spot on which Captain Ross and others fell on July 12, 1868, and within the enclosure marked by the ruined trenches the Mayor related the story of the historic fight. The party then visited the site of the old Maori pa. Here the, trenches were well preserved, and the remark was made by the Mayor that they were the best of their kind in New Zealand at the present time. The excellent work done by the Reserves Committee in planting shrubs and tree ferns was noted by the visitors. From the southern end of the pa the Mayor pointed out what might be made the finest sports ground in Taranaki, if not in New Zealand. The stream, which had been diverted from its old course, had left a dry bed almost surrounded by hills about 100 ft high, and the result was a natural amphitheatre absolutely sheltered from the prevailing wind and bounded on the open side by a stream, which lent itself to further beautification. The Mayor said that the area of this natural sports ground was greater than that of the sports ground in the Recreation Grounds at New Plymouth, and the slopes of the hills before them were capable of providing seating accommodation for 10,000 people. One of the difficulties was that although they owned the land within the hills they did not own the slopes, and it would be necessary for the people to purchase this land and the other hi ;toric spot where it was proposed to make the entrance. The whole reserve had great, possibilities, but they could do nothing without money. He suggested that persons might remember Turuturu-Mokai in their wills.