ORAKEI

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 236, 6 October 1942, Page 2

ORAKEI

For many years we have regret fully seen the beauty spots of Aoek land gradually disappear before what is claimed to be utility or expedience* Too late we have seen our error where with a little foresight beantv could have been saved for posterity and our boast of a beautiful harbour retained. H. H. Kealey, Maryßeaafe. George Finn and others are tol* commended for their support of the Maori retention of their village » Orakei, and for their advocacy of a model village with art and other educational facilities. This village could be made one of our greatest' attractions to tourists as well as the citizens. Several years ago when taking a visitor on a tour of our city, we came to Orakei in the cod of the evening. A Maori woman, her head covered in a bright silk "Jarchief, a babe in a rug upon her back, crossed from the village over the road to the grassy bank and at herself down in the rays of the setting sun and looked across the fufl tide. Our visitor exclaimed and said that it was the most beautiful -eight she had seen in all her travels, a® ing, "And so near to the city." "Nowhere else," she said, "could one see a country's aborigines' village so close to a centre of anil remarked that it should be retained at all costs. E. W. BARTLEET.