A National Asset In Danger.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18925, 14 February 1927, Page 8

A National Asset In Danger.

Wc printed on Saturday a letter to the Editor from a lady who is much concerned over (he danger to Arthur's Pass and the Otira Gorge that has come with tho discovery of those enchanting places. Before the tunnel was completed, the Pass and the Gorge were known only to the tourist who passed, through decorously by the stage-doach and, as time passed, to the adventurous motorist or to the lover of beanty who went on foot. Nowadays thousands of people cross the range every month; the Railway •Department, very wisely, has been energetic in arranging excursions at all seasons of the year, and has brought glimpses of beauty into lives that might otherwise have remained bare of them. One evil consequence of this opening of the Pass and the Gorge to the multitude is, our correspondent says, that the beauty is being frayed, and actually put in peril of tire. The travellers tear up plants and ferns, not knowing that they will not bear transplanting, and it will not need many seasons to cause the disappearance of some of the peculiar beauties of the region. - The danger from fire is not understood. It is a common belief that the rainfall is so heavy and the vegetation so luxuriant, that the Pass and Gorge are (Ire-proof, but this belief has no good foundation. It can be very hot and dry on the Pass and in the Gorge in some mimmera, aud, as our correspondent says. " a few dry days and a "strong wind and the growth of the " mountain sides would be reduced to "ashes." The multitude is thoughtless and careless, and cannot be reached by any appeal to good sense and good feeling. It can be reached, however, by official action, and our correspondent complains that the Government has shown no tmeh concern for the protection of this incomparable national asset as it has shown for less valuable and less beautiful—though valuable and beautiful enough—region* in the North Island. North Island enthusiasts induced the Government to set aaide la» a National Park—ths Tongariio

National Park—a large tract of country including the peak? <->f Ruapehu. N'irauruhoe. and Toncanro. and our : rorrc?pondf'nt that '.fit- Govj trnment -hould proclaim n> a National 1 Park thr- i-ountry bru->-vii Arthur's | P,v--- i>nd the Gn- 'jf fln matter; i iikf this the Oo*eiTimi , . , t; no? m .>v<j , .'.vri'pt 1111' I•: t!:<• • ■;;v;V of local foe!- | iiiir, and it r- u'r::::t>- ;>• •.■•»!1 thr.: thi? j .-ho'.ild !)■ 'he GovI i.-ninicii' on !■- <•*.<:•. account j the S-tt.u-. Ha*. v.,• -*i:*•* that if the ! matter br'v;«!>- tin- ro- | -ponsib.V Mini-t-r '!'• ' iovernmcnt | would d'> H-liai.'vcr «m- to 1 piv-prvi- f»r tt:tration* what ; n v .-»vl r:> 1 :ravr! ! lit- have -aid i- " ! tf><- nv»-; i r» • h ti • v.*;-*.!.- u-«rld.