TAURANGA, IN THE BAY PLENTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 78, 2 April 1923, Page 10

TAURANGA, IN THE BAY PLENTY.

Fairy Spot on East Coast

Ideal Tourist and Holiday Resort

DISTRICT WITH A GREAT FUTURE.

Tauranga. hciiiiiii'ully situated on a prsntically land-locked harbour, is the piincip*i*l town in the Hay of Plenty. All eyes an* at present turned on this district owing to Hip ptilitii*iil fijilit just concluded with the return of Mr. .Mni-iiiillnn. an.l it i- lhen*fore tt fitting time to acquaint the public v. ith some facts about this veritable fairy snot in a land so bountiinlh endowed h\ Xnt.ire, ami which in the years to eomc. with the completion „i tlie Ktt-t Coast railwn . ami the closer settlement of the land, will l.eeome i.i.e of the most ini]>ortai>t centres of the Xorth Island. "Bay of I'leiity" was ti iianie placed on the early charts of tlie East Coa-t hy Captain Cook. The intrepid navigator had endeavoured to land lower clown the ca-t for fresh \ atcr and provisions, hut so hostile was his reception liv the nniives that lie «;;s glad to fret away, naming the place I'overty bay. This mime has been retained till the present time, although it is a libel on i wealthy and prosperous district. -Bay of Plenty." on the other hand, was a happy'thought, and the district has certainly lived up to its name. VOW X RFC I. MAORI TRIBES. Cp till the early "sixties the Maoris had undisputed possession. It was an ideal place for the native race, the hay abounding with shell and other fish, and the land contiguous to the coast heh.'g sheltered by the high lands of the interior from the prevailing south-west win.ls. Maori lore claims the Ray of lenty a- the landing place of nine out .1

o*' the twenty-two early emigrant canoes from llawuiki. and I lie district lias 1 n the ,-,-,, die of sonic of the most powerful 11 ihe-. In the early pan of the nlncleenth cer.turv. a -erics of blood-thirsty: Tribal wars commenced, and these conlitiucd up li!! IH4O. It was in the midst ..f these troublous times that the Church Mi-sionary Soei-ty established a station at Tauranga. The devoted work of the missionaries * and the hardships they siill'ered will always stand out as an interest ing page in the history of early cotniii-Tti ion. Tauranga "iii always lie a iiani'.' associated with the Maori wars. Trouble broke out in ISUI. but before taking up arms against the British the chiefs of the Tauranga Montis met an 1 formulated a series ( ,t resolutions with the objcci of conducting tne war in a humane and chivalrous manner. They had strongly fortified themselves at (.ale Pa. Hire.* miles outside the township. T'.ie British were repulsed with heavy disunities. The Maoris immediately abandoned the pi. as they were short 1 of food and water. Three miles distant j a; Te Ranga another pa was constructed. Here the tables were turned, and the British had a signal victory, 100 natives being killed in the action. EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT. It was not until the close of the Maori War in 18l>4 that any real attempt was j made to settle the Bay of Plenty. Al number of traders and Europeans settled in the vicinity of Tauranga much earlier ' than then, but farming pursuits were | not seriously considered in those days. I Men who. took part in tlie Maori Wai I were granted township allotments and j fifty acres of suburban land. Tauranga made stea by progress, and there wits | much trade done with the natives, who j were very numerous. Then came the a tourist traffic to Rotorua and the Hot Lakes district, .which all passed through Tauranga. The pink and white terraces. | destroyed by the Tarawera eruption in j ISSti. attracted hundreds of tourists, many of them from overseas, and Tauranga naturally received a goodly "rake off"' from the traffic. The opening of the railway line from Auckland to Rotorua robbed Tauranga of what it looked upon as "legitimate spoils.'' and the town received a serious set-back, but is now building up again on a much more solid foundation. KINK RESIDENTIAL TOWN. Tauranga is an ideal residential town, and abounds in historic spots closely linked with the early settlement of the Dominion. The population of the borough is between 2.300 and TJOOO. The town lies almost entirely upon a peninsula about two and a-hal'f miles long, and a mile across at its widest point, tapering gradually towards its northern extremity, which faces the entrance to the harbour some three or four miles distant. The borough was constituted in 1882. In addition t,, its pleasant situation bewecn two arms of the harbour. Tauranga derives much of its charm from its j abundance of trees. The early settlers, i with .vise foresight, planted hundreds of trees of all descriptions, including elms, oaks, cedars, planes, poplars and walnut, and these trees. now in stately growth, stand as silent tokens of the j work of beautilicaiion carried out by I that st„ r( ly race of pioneers to whom | New Zealand owes so much. I Mount Maiiiigaiiui, generally known as "Ihe Mount." is on (he eastern side of the harbour entrance. It is 7tJ*> feet I high, of symmetrical cone-like shape, and is the tnos; conspicuous natural feature iv the district both from land and ! "' l '- 'Ihis is a lin,. asset to the district, and has been set aside as a recreation reserve for all time. From the summit on a .dear day a wonderful view of land and sea can be obtained- which makes a panorama hard i to equal ill any part of the Dominion. A \ regular ferry service is maintained be- . twecn "The Mount and Tauranga. j CLIMATIC CONDTTiO'NS. j The genial climate of Taiiranga makes' i; an ideal residential, tourist, health! and holiday resort. Lying on the East toast. Tauranga faces the rising sun. while a range of hills rising-gradually to| 2000 t\. e t i n height encircle the town itself. Thus ihe town escapes the cold southerly gales of winter, while even I the hottest summer days are followed by' delightfully cool nights. Winters, though' sometimes keen, are never severe. In *Ping a succession of westerly winds aie generally experienced, but these fan "«ays be relied upon to cease about i -instmns tune, and from then on to ■"»> lauranga presents its greatest pondar ''A,. 1 — wonffiw P puiar as a holiday resort. FishnA and shooting eah be obtained in

ahuntlaiice. while the beautiful white: beaches and clear waters of the harbour! and various inlets of the coast make! Tauranga a favourite seaside watering! place. During the summer and autumn j months accommodation is taxed to the; utmost. Tauranga being the natural j seaside watering place for Kotorua and) the Waikato districts, visitors from! these places and from further afield, in-' eluding a large number from Auckland. increasing year by year as road, rail and steamer facilities are improved. CIVIC ACTIVITIES. The business portion of Tauranga is situated on level ground on the waterfront, but the residential portion of the town is on the gently-sloping higher ground, with splendid outlook of the ocean and coast line and beautiful liar-j hour. Steamers run ii|i to the town j wharf, where there is deep water at high tide. There is also wharfage accommoda-, tion at Mount Mauiigiinui. the* water being very deep at all tides, l-'rom here the railway line commences, trains run-i ning from this point to Te Puke. Paengaroa. Matata and other townships on the coast. A big work which is now in hand is the construction of a bridge across the harbour just above Tauranga. When this i-i completed trains will run right into town, the route being along the waterfront between the beach and the main street. Tauranga possesses many municipal advantages that are lacking in larger (owns. The borough has been progressive, and the civic authorities have aimed at making the town modem as far as possible. The water supply is excellent, the mains being brought nine miles from the Waiorohi stream, not far from Oropi. The scheme cost £12.500. and was completed in 1011. The drainage scheme is also on modern lines, the cost being £8000. The sewage is Heated hy

means of a septic tank. The town is lighted by electricity, hydro-electric works having been constructed a few years ago. The Omanawa Falls, some 111 miles away, provide the power. The cost has been between £60.000 and £70.000. Power and light are supplied to Tauranga. Te Puke, to Muirs Cold Mines and to over 100 farms in the neighbouring district. The Municipal Town Hall, with a seating capacity of TOO. together with offices for the staflb is up-to-date in every way. the loan for this undertaking being £S-2r.0. The hall is ihe most up to date in the Hay of Plenty, ami is leased for picture entertainments. There is also a gas works in the town, the concern being privately owned. The Tauranga Domain is a reserve of IS acres within the borough boundaries, and about three minutes' walk from the post oflice. The domain, which posse-scs a hand rotunda and is lighted by electricity, is a valuable asset to the town. The grounds are used principally for sports. The area is equipped with tennis courts, croquet lawns and bowling greens, while football, hockey, etc.. can also be played in the reserve. Other places of interest afe Ihe Omanawa Kails, the redoubt, an old Maori pa overl oking the hai'oour and used by British troops during the Maori War: tiie military cemetery; and t'.itc Pa. where a church has been erected to commemorate the great light of IS(>4. The Beautifying Society is iloing great work in improving the small reserves and streets. The Poverty Bay Development League is also a very live body. HARBOCR IMPROVEMENTS. Millions of money have been expended in New Zealand and other parts of the world in an endeavour to build harbours where Nature never intended

they should be situated and in many instances one day's heavy storm has destroyed thousands of pounds worth of material and months of hard work. This will not be the case with Tauranga. When the harbour board completes its scheme of improvements Tauranga will be the happy possessor of a natural deep water up-to-date harbour, which will be an immense asset to the district. It will be the only natural deep water harbour on the coast between Mercury Bay and Wellington. Ihe scheme will not embrace works that can be demolished iv a night, because the harbour itself is well sheltered and safe. The board is aiming at improvements which will make Tauranga a lirst class port for Ihe nceonimodat ion of large ocean-going steamers. It will be the principal port for a very extensive territory. It only needs the completion of the Cast toast railway and better roads for set tiers to make the district one of the most productive in the Dominion. Already the ratepayers have sanctioned a loan of C 123.000. but the immediate harbour works arc estimated to cost about I'TS.ooi). THE MILITARY CEMETERY. The military cemetery at Tauranga will always be a reminder to the visitor to the strenuous days of early colonisation, when British troops were ■ptart ered in the town to protect the settlers from the attacks of Ihe native race during the Maori wars. The Maoris were a worthy foe and after a lapse of liftv years representatives ol the European and Maori races erected a monument in the military cemetery to the British who fell at Cite I'a ami Te Ranga. The site of the cemetery was once a Maori stronghold, known as Otamataha Pa. Later it was used as a mission ground Tiy the church Missionary Society.

I The inscription on the monument | reads as follows: — ! sacred To the Memory of I KAWIKI PUHIKAKI A Chief of the Npaiterangi Tribe, who, led the Maoris in battle at (Sate Pa. on j April 29th. and at Te Ranga on dune j 1 21st, IN<>4. being killed in the latter | ■ engagement. I This Monument was erected on the j : fiftieth anniversary of his death by the j people of the British and Maori races, to commemorate his chivalrous and] humane orders for the protection oft wounded men who fell into the hands .of the Maoris and for the respectful! ! treatment of the bodies of any of their enemies slain in battle. The order was framed by Rawiri. with the assistance ami approval of Henare . Taratoa and other chiefs, and was biyi ally observed by his followers: and j after the repulse on the assault on; Cute-Pa. the British wounded, who lavall night in and around the Pa. were given water and treated with kindness. " This chivalrous conduct of the Maori leader and his people so impressed their contemporaries that Ravin's body was exhumed in IS7O from the trenches at Te Ranga. and re-interred at this spot with befitting ceremonies. The seeds of better feelings between the two races thus sown 011 the battle-, field have since borne ample fruit; (lis-j affection has given place to loyalty.] and hostility to friendship. British and Maori now living together as one united people. dune 21st. 1014. j I-'I-UTTOROWINC The soil and climate of Tauranga dis- ! trict are eminently suitable for the pro- j duciion of fruit, but of recent years j some stone fruit has not done so well I

as formerly* owing to disease known as ••brown rot." which has played havoc with the peach, nectarine and plum crops. The district is very suitable for the growing of lemons and a considerable acreage has been planted out and the trees are doing well. The marketing is" done through a lemon pool with headquarters at Auckland. The majority of growers, seeing the wisdom of cooperation, are members of the pool. I Soma very good work in regard to the ! selection of the proper type of fruit: has been done liv Mr. Davidson, late manager of the Tauranga Horticultural Station This station has been closed I for about three months us part of the; tJoveriinieiifs -.heme of retrenchment j and cconomv. The Ilawke's Bay station has also been closed down. The citrus ; .-rowing area of the district extends : from Katikati to raengaroa. and the principal lemon growers have then* ; orchards in close proximity to Tauranga ; its ( .|f. When well cared for lemon trees commence bearing at about five veai-s. but tip* maximum profit is not reached until their age is ten >'<"»"- . Lemon curing has been successfully , carried on to the advantage of growers. -I'oorman" oranges, another of the citrus fruit group, grow well in the district. The three bear well and as the fruit is always in demand for marmalade, its culture forms a profitable branch of the local fruitgrowing industry. The lime also does exceptionally" well. Many people who are. in a position to give expert opinion hold that the Tauranga district is unrivalled in the Dominion for citrus fruits, and it only needs the continuation of scientific' methods of growing, and proper organisation of marketing! to see the industry reach huge dimensions, with hundreds of growers develop-

ing small areas and being able to get i a good return from their labours lor ;i B themselves and their families. It j, the small man who needs encouragement and until every available acre of. H land in the country is made to produce I its maximum New Zealand will never Ik reach to that stage of importance her ||j wonderful natural endowments entitle her \to. |; POVERTY BAY. "-en During the last few years, owing to the building of the East Coast railway, I improved steamer services with Auckland, and the establishment of various motor services throughout the district, '■ M Poverty Bay has commenced to come, 8 into its own. On the rout-? of the East' '' I Coast railway through the Bay of _. ■ Plenty from Auckland to Gisborne there I arc four million acres of land, some of it as good as any in the Dominion. A quarter of a million acres is "first claw," j| many fiats being rich enough to run a bullock to the acre. Dairying is being tarried on very extensively throughout tie district, and there are good, up-to-date | factories dotted throughout the whole of the district. In addition to dairying, farmers go in largely for fattening, pigraising, maize growing, and in the back §• country, sheep and cattle raising. In recent years many small holdings near Tauranga have been laid out in citrui fruits and passion fruit: while poultry and bee farming are also in full swing. Pig farming has proved a very profitable undertaking, and an up-to-date bacon factory has been established at Tauranga. There are freezing works at Whakatane, which is about the centre of the district. The growing of tobacco leaf has been tried with good results and there is a future for this class of farming if proper methods are brought into play. SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE. Apart from the desirability of the Bay of Plenty as a farming centre, the district may be termed a sportsman's paradise. Sword fish have been caught in the !*av up to jewt. King-fishing and line lishing generally attract a lot of attention, some of tlie best fishing ' grounds in the Dominion lying off the coast. There is splendid deer shooting in the ranges, pig-hunting in the bush, . pheasant and quail to lie got in the open country and pigeons in the bush. Duck and teal are plentiful in the lagoons and rivers: while the godwit l or curlew) on the mud Hats abound. For boating, launching ami yachting Tauranga Harbour is ideal. There are many islands in the bay. including White and Whale ' ; Islands, tor the larger boats to visit, and the wild s.encry and thermal activity arc an added attraction. Cruising is always enjoyable when lovely scenery is the objective, ami in this connection nothing could be better than Mayor or Alderman Islands and many other simi-