A MARLBOROUGH BEAUTY SPOT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 105, 27 January 1908, Page 5

A MARLBOROUGH BEAUTY SPOT.

' Just now when devastatiii; fires are sweeping, through -so'much, of. the'"most beautiful bush- in New Zealand, and one, beauty spot, .after -.another: is;. beiii2' (Jestrove.d, a party.; of people are .congratulating 'themselves, oil 1 - the success : of their efforts to save the buslr ill;.' Double -Bay, which' is to-clay -'almost 'the only piece of natural' bush ' left 'in Queeii Charlotte Sound.. A. fewiweeks' ago it'was Feared that - this, bush was .to bo filled,, aud letters' and tele.grams of protest were senttb the authorities, begging them to have it declared a: scenic reserve. Great was the satisfaction in Picton when, a telegram (irrived from Sir' Joseph Ward, saying that'this would be done. . ' ' . The hush, comprising over six; hundred acres, rising to high peaks, is; covered with the dark green native birch, -and relieved by graceful umbrella tree ferns. On a warm summer : afternoon,' as the writer saw and noted the varied shades of the : luxuriant rogetation, it was truly an oxquisite';.s'ceno. for' years camping parties have. visited the Bay from many. centres, and all concur insaying that-it, is .an ideal, spot. 'The" steep Hills-•.of;"obtK > bays. are covered with bush' to the. water!s - edge. This distance from ■Pictonis • only about six. miles, and, makes'•••an - easy run in . _ ono - of. the many comfortable and swift' motor, launches, which are as 'essential' to : life in.j the Sounds, as a vehicle or. bicycle is in townor'country. The' tui is hoard with his melodious note calling to his mate, and occasionally the wild pigeon i3.seen flitting from tree to tree. The • Government has wisely . preserved many . places of historic '..interest iii and' around Endeavour Inlet, -' but a- fairer and more ' lovely, piece of bush, does not exist anywhere than that at- Double Bay, and the plucky visitors who had agitated for tho preservation of this idyllic spot are to be congratulated. For bathing purposes, tho water is clear and not too deep, and there is a fine stretch of ,beach, upon which a boat or launch can easily be landed. • This placo now stands out in solitary beauty, for the once-covered hills of the Sounds are bare and dry, and,the children of tho coming generation will find it hard to believe, that once upon a time all wore like Double Bay.