SIGN OF THE BELLBIRD ATTRACTED MANY VISITORS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28559, 12 April 1958, Page 10

SIGN OF THE BELLBIRD ATTRACTED MANY VISITORS

[Specially written for ‘‘The Press" by L. R. BLOXHAM.) A dilapidated shell surrounding a wilderness of decayed timbers is all that remains of the once beautiful Sign of the -Bellbird. Since World War II ended, the condition of this building has deteriorated rapidly.

Vandals have engraved their names on the red stone walls—walls that once embraced friendly gatherings of wearly travellers in the early 1900’s.

Originally the building was intended as a place where visitors could spend a quiet week-end or enjoy a few days’ rest. The bush provided them with a region full of scenic, geological and botanical interest, and also an interest in bird life; and it offered sharp exercise, as well as a change of mental outlook for those who, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, “turned their backs on the life of a jcity.” « Some years later, accommodation was made for a caretaker to guard Kennedy’s Bush from the ravages of fire and stock. Then Mr H. G. Ell opened a tea-room to help to pay for labour and material needed for the Summit road. • When Mr Ell purchased Ken-

nedy's Bush public opinion was against him. It was said to be too remote from the city to be of any value. This view had some confirmation when in 1906, out of 500 people who had set out to visit the bush, 200 got lost on the way and had to return to Christchurch without even seeing it. The lack of public support worried Mr Ell. In one letter, he wrote: “Need I tell the people of Christchurch that I was never asked by anyone to take this Summit road work in hand? I rode over the hills about Kennedy's Bush when a boy; I knew Kennedy’s Bush when the valley was covered with beautiful native forest and when the songs of native birds filled the air.

“The memory of it all made me love the place and I never forgot it. What is the good of talking to me of a monument to my memory when appeals for support, made with all the earnestness I am capable of, are refused.” But Mr Ell held to his belief that, once a road was formed, nature-lovers and hikers would want to visit the bush. Eventually a stone-crusher was purchased for £l9O on the guarantee of six of the leading members of the Summit Road Supporters’ Fellowship and it proved of great assistance in providing crushed stone for the road to Kennedy’s Bush. To provide a resthouse for the trampers was part of Mr Ell’s plan, and when the Bellbird was established, he rented tents to those persons who wished to stay a night. Fine View Of Mountains The view from the rest-house has been described in Robert Laing’s book. “The Summit Track.” “There is a glorious outlook over the plains to the great western mountains. All the peaks from Mount Peel to Mount Torlesse are readily visible and on very clear days, hills much further to the south may be seen as well as some of the summits in the neighbourhood of Mount Cook. Such a wide view can only be paralleled in a few parts of the world.” It is sad that the Bellbird was left to decay. Frequently, tourist buses stop to enable their passengers to photograph and inspect the ruins of the formerly beautiful building. Plans were discussed at last week’s City Council meeting for the demolition of the Bellbird and the construction of a shelter Let us hope that these plans will lead to prompt action in the near future and in doing so, honour the remarkable work of Mr H. G. Ell, a man of great enterprise and great vision.