THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1908. A PROSPECTIVE SEASIDE RESORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9040, 25 January 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1908. A PROSPECTIVE SEASIDE RESORT.

In connection with the proposal to acquire s roadway from the Blair-logie-Homewood road through. the Kohiwai estate to the deep water of the Whareama estuary, which was mooted in our issue of Wednesday last, we are assured on good authority that a public right-of-way exists in law though not in fact. If this be so, it only remains for action to 1 e taken to assert that right. It would be well if the Masterton Chamber of Commez'ce were to take immediate steps to have the matter investigated. Cut whether the right to cross the Kohiwai property exists or not, the importance of gaining access to the stream is obvious to all those who are interested in the progress of this district. The establishment of a fisl.ing industry on the banks of the Whareama depends entirely upon the facilities obtainable for the conveyance of fish from the river to the settlements adjacent to it. The value of such an industry to Masterton and other towns in the Wairarapa would undoubtedly be great. There is, too, another aspect of this question of access which ought ! not to be over-'

looked. The roadway would open up a splendid summer seaside resort to tourists and residents of the city and Wairarapa settlements. There is a beautiful stretch >of water upon which steam launches could ply for some miles, and upon this stream tourists could enjoy salt-water fishing to their heart's content. There is also a line stretch of sea-beach which would prove a great attraction to holiday-makei-3. Wo are surprised that the Tourist Department has not long since had its eye upon this charming locality. It goes far and , wide in its endeavour to find fresh resorts for the tourist, but overlooks those near at hand. Once a tourist house were erected on either the harbour or native reserve,—-and the latter might, we are assured, easily be acquired—there would soon spring up about the estuary the accommodation and bathing houses and other buildings necessary for a brisk summer holiday traffic. If these facts were placed before the proper authorities in conjunction with the value of the waters for the supply of a large district with fredh fish, we believe not only would the roadway we are advocating be secured without delay, but that something would he promptly done to transform the locality into a popular summer resort.