WHAREAMA RIVER—OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9038, 3 March 1908, Page 5

WHAREAMA RIVER—OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.

(To the Editor). gj r> X perceive in your issue of the 28th ult., that there are still those who decry this river as a fish Mg, pleasure and health resort. A c King of objections are quoted from who poses as having known the district for a great many years. Most, of the bug-bears that this gentleman alleges exist have been dealt with very fully per medium of your columns, and there has been abundant evidence adduced by practical fishermen and others to demonstrate that the river contains a plentiful supply of fish, and that it and its surroundings and the sea beach constitute an ideal pleasure and health resort. correspondent talks of htnvling gales sweeping across the reserve at tremendous velocity. If he is an old hand in the • Whareama he should know that gales there are not one iota worse, if so bad, as at his ideal &r ot . Castlepoint. Gales are not uncommon in all parts of the dominion at certain of the year. He should also be aware that for years the Maoris resided at the mouth of the river, and that there is no evidence that even their frail wharcs were blown into the Pacifi: Ocean or the occupants devoured by sharks, or that they perished from want of drinking water. If your correspondent will take the trouble to inspect the country he will find a splendid spring of pure water quite close to the site ■ot the old Ferry-house, and it is not the sole one near the mouth of the .river. Ferry-keepers, in old days, shepherds and other employees at lea constantly resided at the mouth •of the river, and there is no evidence extant that they found the locality.a ""Desert of Sahara," so far as a supply of fresh water was concerned. The assertion that a long and ex-

pensive road would be necessary is almost too absurd to require com- \ ment, for as every one who is cognisant of the circumstances is aware that all that is requisite to give access to the river is less than a mile of road traversing level country. This access obtained, the whole traffic could proceed by boat or steam launch to the river mouth. If the Whareama river is fraught with all the objections set forth by your correspondent, then it must dawn on one as a peculiar fact that some thirty to forty residents of Tinui and Whareama petitioned Parliament last session throi/gh Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., to have the river dealt with and made available to the public. Most of these petitioners have resided in the district many years, and must be accredited as 'knowing as much, perchance even more, than your pessimistic objector. Only recently a number of Masterton residents visited the Whareama under the guidance of Mr H. Cole, and it is understood were delighted with the uuting.—l am, etc., TINUI.