FOUNDATION LAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 41, 18 February 1929, Page 8

FOUNDATION LAID.

GREATER TOURIST TRAFFIC.

WONDERS OF A HERITAGE

CKRLMOXY AT NATIONAL PARK

"Vini have ;:ot tn rater for the crowd ami give service or yon will not do any •rood. Wo are out to give that service to the Lest of our ability. We shall meet people at National Park railway station, and, when fhev have seen the wonders of this glorious heritage, we shall take them back to il,e railway." The speaker was Mr. I*. L. Wigloy. chairman of directors of the Tongariro National Park Tourist Co.. when explaining the object of building one of the must, up-to-date hotels in the Southern Hemisphere to sonic hundred.- of quests whom lie was welcoming. It was the occasion of laying tlie foundation stone of the building by the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, during the week-end. It was a grey, misty morning when specially invited guests from Auckland and Wellington left their respective sleeping cars which had been shunted off the expresses during the middle of the night and made their way to the waiting omnibus. It was before seven o'clock, and a start was made on the eleven miles journey to Chateau Tongariro. The sun rose looking like a white disc through the fog as the party were conveyed up the winding road, mounting all the while, sometimes through dense bush, and again past and over leaping, tumbling snow-fed streams. And then round a corner straight ahead the Clufteau, which is in course of erection, came suddenly into view. The mist had cleared and a most glorious view of the mountains was obtained, snow-capped Kuapehu. smoking Ngauruhoe and majestic Tongariro stretching their peaks up into the blue heavens. It was a sight to be long remembered. Ruapehu looked to be only a couple of stone'sthrows away, so clear and rarified was the atmosphere. In reality it was at i least five miles distant. ,

Where the Chateau Nestles. The Chateau nestles underneath this great mountain surrounded by bush, mostly consisting of mountain beech, upon which the native mistletoe with its brilliant scarlet flowers climbs. Then there are the stately mountain cabbage trees and the mauve and white veronicas. and also that peculiar little Noah's Arkshaped tree, the mountain cedar. There was plenty for the guests to do and see till noon, when the Hon. Stallworthy well and truly laid the foundation stonebefore a larye crowd of people, which was swelled by schoolchildren from various parts of the district. Subsequent to the first function an official luncheon was held, sixty people sitting down to a most excellent repast. In proposing the toast of the Govern ment, Mr. Wigley said the Mount Cook Tourist Co. ran the first motor service in New Zealand and Sir Joseph Ward in 1000 gave that company its first mail contract. This was commenced on January 1, 1907, and had proved to be most successful. The Government had run the Hermitage at Mount Cook at a loss of £2000. When his com pan v. which, by the way, was also interested in the development of National Park, took over the place a profit was shown the first year. The Government of today realised that no Department of ' State could run such enterprises so successfully as private companies or individuals. That was one of the main reasons why his company was erecting the Chateau. After paving a hi<*h tribute to Mr. Herbert W. Hall, the architect, of Timaru, and the Fletcher Construction Co., Mr. Wigley said: "This Chateau is a national asset more particularly as far as the North Island is concerned. We are out to satisfy. There will be different grades of sleeping accommodation, but as far as the various entertainments and lounge are concerned the object of the company is to «et all the guests together. We are out to cater for the big men. the small man and right down to the schools and schoolchildren. It is proposed to work in with the Railway Dej>artnient and have week-end excursions from all parts of the North Island.''

Continuing, Mr. Wigley said it gave him much pleasure to propose the toast especially as Sir Joseph Ward was head of the Government. He was the man to send the Tourist Department along. During the last number of years that Department did not have the help and assistance it should have had. The last Government was not at all sympathetic to the Tourist traffic. Tn the past the Government Publicity Department had done quite a lot of good work, but in the wrong direction. " It was his company's intention to form a ring of hotels right through New Zealand. "We want to get hold of the tourist and traveller at Auckland." he said, -and run him right through New Zealand. By these nieans his costs will be lessened." Mr. ■y\ igley also touched on reading problems and said that as far as National Park was concerned roads should be put down where the quickest tourist results would be obtained. He asked Mr. J. Fletcher, of the Fletcher Construction Co.. to pre sent Mr. Stallworthy with a memento of the occasion. Government's Tourist Intentions. 1 Responding, the Minister of Health said he was glad to represent the Government and to see the Government Departments co-operating with private enterprise. It was the Government's (desire to go ahead along those lines, and. instead of competing with private citizens, it was proposed to give all the help possible. He personallv would «nve his share of help. Mr. Stallworthv did not agree with the statement that" the Publicity Department had not been doin« well. It should be remembered that its work had been developmental. New Zealand publicity was equal to that 'of other countries. But he would admit that it had fallen down at the salesmanship end. lie would nive his sincerest interest to the. development of the tourist traffic in this country. Catering for the Tourist. Mr. Jenkins, M.P. for Parnell. oropnsed the toast of the Tongariro National Park Board IT,. saW the site fo ,. thfi , niltl , ait was ideal and it would be sure to attract He, too. realised the want of touri-t traffic. New Zealand should look largely to America f., r it. and the American's must be catered for. This was apparently being adequately done at Ton-a- '""■ He was pleased to hear that The more humble tourist—the one with! moderate means—was not heim- forgotten. J his country was not getting it. snare of overseas tourist traffic-, vet it Had the greatest share of the world's attraction* The Government should see £vf C^ Wa ! nio - re efficient services t0U " 8t ' ™ *** mot ° r

W, V r %• M T n J - B ' Th omp«on, UnderSec, etary for Lands, and chairman of the. board, pointed put that the board had

no nioncv fcir- i.«»j '■»» if «■'.• i i,«!": v^rvr^ ""*» ""«l«*r the ti-nn. of » J d board would have f,„ 1( , 5 C 7 poses mentioned. A dee,, debt of P°rpresent for t!i- inn-rot which fcTi** 1 taken in National P iir k ; r r ,d w*n -1an,.., uriuinatwl with the Liberal F* en„„o„, ="m 1 no other place „, the >£ could sh-w -„ ~,„H, r;uk la, ld wrTI "t population. To-dav there VZ)™* Zealand. I' arks inXetr

-Mr. LaiivHonc. M P for Tr.i.. prup0,i,r~,),,.,«,; of [ih *rT Tm < I'avk T0,,,,-, < ~. sal/'thev Lave succeeded i„ linding a" WUer than the phnj-r.-uml 01 the South k'T to cree, the Chat,,,,. That X 52 contained some of the. greatest iiS* ■ the wo,-,d. After hearing t h :\fi" remarks he felt sure tit 00k to, war.! to a greater impetus „ ounst roorts and traffic. Mr. SaW ton replied. «"uupTribute to Maori Donor. Mr. C. A. Troup Mayor of Welling™ and a member ,„ the To„g ariro gj Hoard, proposed the toast of the archi tcct and builders. Incidentals th e speaker paid a glowing tribute to that great Maori chief Te Heuheu Tuki,, (Horonuk,,, who had given lark to the nation It was greater than all guts which had been given bv XW /ealanders. Regarding the Chateau if it was completed within the speeifij tune, then it would be one of thVn,o«t expeditious jobs done in New Zealand Dunn? the course of his remarks Mr Hall, architect, said there were So'men on the job. which was being run on the guild system. Mr. J. Fletcher, also re sponding. said his firm's onranisation made it possible to take contracts and do work within apparently such quick time. The reason was that on everv job they had men in whom they could trust. The men's good will was retained. The Chateau would be the finest budding of its kind in New Zealand, and he asaSred those present that it would be completed on time.

Mr. John Cullen, 1.5.0.. honorarv warden of the park, proposed the toast of the donors. A grandson of Te Heuiieu. in a characteristic speech, replied, saying he was glad that the gift to the nation had been approved. The of the foundation stone was the com* mencement of a prosperous and farreaching enterprise which would drawpeople to New Zealand's plavjrround from all parts of the world. Kia" ora katoa. Mr. E. Phillips Turner, Secretary of Forestry, proposed the toast of the Press and the Minister that of Mr. and Mrs. e! S. Elms, the manager and his wife, for the splendid way in which the catering had been done. 6