The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1891 WHEN ARE THEY COMING?

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XX, Issue 1519, 3 February 1891, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1891 WHEN ARE THEY COMING?

The merits of Akaroa as a summer resort are at last becoming more gonerally known to Canterbury people. The last month or so we have had more visitors than ever, and still they come, It seems, however, to have been the object of all townspeople who could escape from the dust, beat and worry of the city to do so. The numbers who have fled to the seaside this season augur an increased general prosperity. Sumner and New Brighton—those places so convenient to the city man who can spare but a few hours for relaxation by the seashore —have been crowded out. A week ago every available lodging was occupied in Sumner, and not only that, but there were over a hundred people camped out on the beach. Now it may well be asked why some of these people did not come to Akaroa. We have plenty of accommodation for them ; the most beautiful combination of marine and pastoral scenery ; and chief of all to those in search of a holiday—quiet retirement. It might be said that we have no occasion to growl, as we have had much more than the usual number of visitors here the present summer. That is true, but then if the place were as well known as it ought to be, we shou'd have a great many more.

The wisdom of the city fathers in endeavoring to make the place as attractive as possible is to be commended, but there is always a great opposition to improvement —on the ground that it is unwise for the borough to run into debt. Disastrous consequences wese predicted when Mr Tosswill, as Mayor, set to work to improve, and borrowing had to be gone into to carry out his proposals. His energy and foresight, however, proved correct, and although tho wharf dues have fallen off to a considerable extent lately, the borough is yet in a good healthy position. Mr Tosswill certainly did more for the place than any of his predecessors. We have always advocated improvement, and the increase of the attractions of the town. In these there is a mine of wealth that we can open by no other method. Were the Union Company to take up the place, with a little more enthusiasm than they at present display, the riddle of our hardly being known outside of the province would be solved. We notice that nearly all visitors come by co&ch in consequence of the unsuitable steamers that call here. As stated in these columns a short time back, Akarou is not included in the tourist's programme This astonishes those globe-trotters who by accident drift here. They are electrified, and wonder how it can possibly be they have never heard of Akaroa before. Bishop Julius is a notable example. We heard a gentleman declare but a few days ago, that were the place at all known, it would be visited by all travellers. He was astonished, and said " he had never seen such a beautiful sheet of water as this harbour outside the Mediterranean." All world-wide travellers, however, who visit us are loud in praise of the bpauty of the place, and generally stny beyond the time intended by them at first. Why isn't this knowledge of our great attractiveness encouraged ? Plainly it is because those who hold the ropes keep the public in ignorance of Akaroa, and its great suitabilities as a traveller's rest. In spite of all, however, to prevent it, we are becoming known, and being recognised, and in the future—the near future f.oo—Akaroa will be a large watering place. It cannot be otherwise. The very reason for which we are shunted on account of the lakes may bo the same that those who can aftord travelling to a distance have, and the Company that conveys them—we are too near. Many people like to get as far out of the track of civilization as they can, and so go away into the back country. We did hear of two young ladies once who spoke to the following eftect :—'' lam going to the lakes," said one. " What! going to the lakes ? that dreary country, you'll be eaten up by the mosquitos. It's not half as pretty as Akaroa, I'm going there." '• Oh yes," was the reply, " Akaroa's not bad, but then you know it's not nearly so far away as the lakes.'

Let us rouse our dormaut energies then, and at once prepare to add to our attractions. In the first place we notice that the excursions to iSumner and New Brighton are patronised so well on account of the bands that accompany them. It is the music and the dancing on the beach that draw by far the greater number. Where ia our band that thrived so well for a time and then—no it didn't die ?. It is still slumbering for want of a conductor. All the materials are to hand but the conductor. We have an excellent music teacher in the district, so a difficulty of that sort should be easily got over. To walk along our shores on a calm clear night and hear the music stealing over the water would—and has been—the most charming way of spending a Summer's night, Then again look at our history, the most interesting perhaps in New Zealand ; the history of the French settlement; the hoisting of the Union Jack at Green's point ; the battle on that remarkable Peninsula, Onawe, between the Maoris of the north and south ; and a thousand other interesting associations that would draw numbers here to view the places where such events took place, and see the relics of those past times, were they only known. It is almost difficult to procure a boat to visit different portions ot the harbor, the shores of which teem with beauties

h.t only on a close inspection will eveal their loveliness. What a fortune here is waiting for the man who even- ' ually will collect together a number of pleasure boats, and obtain a trusfcy guide or two who have educated themselves up in the historic lore of each particular place and know each sequestered valley and commanding point by heart. The numerous tales connected with certain spots could be tolH, and those possessing no record—well, one or two will have to be invented.

There are many other ways in which our attractions can be indefinitely increased. We have all the materials to hand, and they only want skilful management to render them an inexhaustible mine of profit to us, only we wont see it. The Domain is beautiful, but it is a lost beauty, and is actually nothing less than a burden on that much-abused, but hardworking, body—the Borough Council. It should yield revenue were our band revived and to yield sweet music, say one night a week in the Domain, so that dancing could be indulged in on that soft piece of turf all ready there for the purpose ; and were the paths lit up with Chinese lanterns, and the pavilliou used as a refreshment resort, who would grudge a small sum for the amusement ? The place would be crowded. Residents would be only too glad of such an opportunity, and there would be no more grumbling that the place was horribly dull, and was going to the dogs. Let us then rouse ourselves, and determine to pave the way to better things. If not, then let us imagine the prophecy fulfilled—Akaroa turned into a sheep run. Wβ can imagine the proprietor pointing out the ruins to a visitor. " That is where the Borough Council Chambers stood. They have almost disappeared. This place I use as my sheariug shed was the Oddfellows' Hall. It lets the rain in terribly. There's a bit of the jetty still left you see, and yonder, where the space is quite cleir, and there is no vestige left, was—the Mail Office."