SCENIC RESOURCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1922, Page 4

SCENIC RESOURCES.

TARANAKI’S ATTRACTIONS. TOURIST OFFICER’S VISIT. For some time past it has been felt is New Plymouth that Taranaki’s tourist at tractions and resources are not sufficiently appreciated by those in charge of the various Government tourist bureaux in New Zealand, the province rarely being included in the itineraries arranged for overseas visitors or done justice to in respect of trips arranged by Government officers on behalf of New Zealand holiday-makers. At the instance of the local Tourist and Expansion League, the department sent up Mr. L. J. Bayfield, head tourist officer, who has been in the district for the past three days. On arrival on Friday night, he was met by members of the executive of league, who accorded him a hearty welcome to the town and province, Mr. Bayfield, in reply, stating that he desired to see and learn as much as he could during his short stay. On Saturday morning he and Mrs. Bayfield were met by the vice-chairman of the league (Mr. Gordon Fraser) and shown the local beaches, the Park, “Brooklands” and “Maranui,” where they partook of luncheon with the chairman and his wife (Mr. ani Mrs. T. .C. List), and then motored to the mountain, calling in on the way at Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Burgess' beautiful country home, “Hapurunui.” The afternoon was fine, and good views were obtained of the scenery en route and in the mountain rjserve. At the hostelry the members of the Mountain House committee (who had formed themselves into a working bee Jn order to carry out some improvements to the surroundings) were met, and the matter of giving more prominence by the Government officer to the mountain as a holiday - and health resort was strongly urged by the members. The weather on Sunday proved disappointing, it being foggy in the morning and raining heavily in the afternoon, and the party returned to town in the evening. Yesterday morning the visitors were shown other features of New Plymouth, including Mr. Freethey’s fine gardens, by Mr. Eric Shaw, a member of the executive of the Tourist League, and in the afternoon a visit was paid to Waitara, where the local chamber of commerce provided afternoon tea at the Marble Bar. The president (Mr. W. R. Johns) presided, and extended a hearty welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Bayfield. He 1 regretted the state of the weather prevented an inspection of the various interesting places in the district. Waitara was an historic spot, and would well repay a visit. Perhaps the Government Tourist Department. would be able to see its way to include the district in its itineraries, particularly when the road to Te Kuiti was negotiable. Mr. Bayfield that he had seen a great deal whilst he had been in Taranaki that had impressed him. As far as he could see, much depended unon the completion of the New Plymouth-Te Kuiti road, which would enable them to arrange a circuit where now tourist were obliged, if they came to Taranaki, to go back over the same ground again, a thing the average tourist did not care about. The party, which included representatives of the New Plymouth Tourist and Expansion League, were then taken to the Manukoriki pa, on the northern side of the Waitara River, and from which a splendid view of the town and valley of the Waitara may be obtained, and to The Camp, where considerable improvements have recently been made, including* the laying down of four tennis lawns and the beautifying of the surroundings. The grounds now contain a bowling-green, croquet lawn, asphalt tennis court, four turf courts, cricket and football grounds, and are a credit to the town. To-day Mr. Bayfield proceeds to Eltham, where he will be met by Mr. T. B. Crump, chairman of Dawson’s Falls Mountain House Committee, and taken to the mouu- / tain and other places of interest in the district, returning to Wellington by Thursday’s express.