THE TARARUAS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1936, Page 10

THE TARARUAS

ACCESS TO RANGES

CENTENNIAL SCHEME

A NATIONAL PARK

The move to constitute the Tararua Ranges a National Park as a Centennial Memorial Park for the Wellington Province will be carried a step forward at an extraordinary general meeting of the Tararua Tramping Club which is to be held on October 30 next.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a scheme drawn up by the committee which proposes to declare the Tararuas a National Park, to extend road access to the range, to build hostels at suitable points of entry, and to establish a comprehensive system of six-feet riding tracks. The access roads, it is suggested, need'be oneway roads only, motor roads through the ranges not being favoured. It is also suggested that the principal hostel be placed at or about Table Top, in such a position as to leave room for the formation of a landing ground later on. Smaller hostels are suggested (1) on the knob at the edge of the bush on the Puffer Track, overlooking Smith's Creek;.(2) at .Waingawa Flats; and (3) at the Manga- j hao Dam. To give access to the Table Top hostel five miles of road would be required, with a bridge over the Waiotawa. Three miles of road would be wanted at the Puffer, and possibly one mile at Waingawa Flats. Road access to Mangahao Dam already exists. In view of the limited area of skiing grounds at Kime, it is suggested that the scheme should include the provision of road access to the skiing ground at Rangiwahia. This Avould not only relieve the congestion at Kime. but would provide winter sport facilities at a spot more convenient to residents in the northern portion of the province. Four miles of road would be required.at Rangiwahia. Both high level and low level tracks ■will be required, with connecting tracks at intervals. The configuration of the range suggests that the principal tracks should -mainly run longitudinally. The ' key points are the Mangahao Dam in the north, and the suggested Puffer road-end in,the south. Starting from'Mangahao, a track would lead up on the Eketahuna range, over Ng-apuketurua, down Schorman's track for a little distance into the Mangatainoka River, over into the Ruapai and the Ruamahanga, then via Cow Saddle, Waingawa River, Maungatarera River, Holdsworth Saddle, Totara Flats, and thence over Cone Saddle, down the Tauherenikau River, and up Smith's Creek. . Such a scheme as proposed by the committee is not going to receive unqualified support from members, as the same meeting which discusses the proposals will have the following motion before it:—"That" this club urges the preservation of the Tararua State Forest Reserve in as nearly as possible its original natural condition, and opposes any further substantial development in the reserve; and that especially does it oppose the provision of hostels or a road or roads within this area, or the granting of- any control or licence in respect to the Tararua State Forest Reserve to commercial interests."