MARUIA SPRINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 March 1930, Page 5

MARUIA SPRINGS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER [OUK OWN CORRESPONDENT.] •REEFTON, March 27. Hon. P. De la Perelle and party arrived at Reef ton this morning. Mr. J. B. Auld, County Chairman, welcomed Mr. Perelle. The County Chairman voiced the regret of the residents of the County to the Ministry in the illness of Sir

Joseph Ward. Mr. Perelle expressed his pleasure at being in Reefton, the reputation of which was well known to him. He knew of the disabilities that miningdistricts underwent when mining declined. He hoped that farming would take the place of past industries. Mr. J. B. Auld, referring to the Maruia Springs thanked the Tourist Department for the trouble they had taken in preparing conditions for the lease of the Springs area, but these

were not acceptable to the residents of this County who thought to make of the Springs a poor man’s sanatorium. The conditions the Department sought to impose would debar the advantages they conferred, except 'to rich people. The County Council would like the area cut up into sections as there had been several applications for sections there. Mr. Perelle stated that Cabinet had approved of a grant of £B5O for several improvements to the baths and the bridge giving access to the springs. Mr. Auld referred to the purchase of areas but Mr. Collett, chief of the

Tourist Department, stated this was impossible. It was proposed to provide for the use of the Springs for people of modest means and to reserve for the use of poor people one third of the water from the Springs. The Minister. considered it would be unwise to grant the freehold to any person, but the Act allowed for a grant of 21 years’ to those who sought land

there. Mr. W. Blackadder considered that the main asset to the Maruia Valley was the springs and the granting of the use of the water from them to one individual would, create a monopoly. He would suggest cutting the area into quarter-acre sections and leasing them. The construction of a 25 yards’ bath would be a big advantage and .also separate baths for both settlers and invalids were necessary. A nice township could be laid out on the 100 acres which laid well to the sun and there was a creek that could be harnessed' for electric lighting and power purposes. He considered that the Springs should be conserved for the use of the people for all time. Mr. Patterston, President of the Progress League, stated that as the Springs would be on a main road when the present reading schemes were carried out and the curative powers of them would be fully used in future. Hitherto, the Coast residents had not ben able to take full advantage that

the Springs gave to those in ill health. He considered a scenic reserve comprising Lake Daniels, The Springs and Lake Christabel should be created and provision made to prevent the destruction of the native bush. Tracks to both lakes could be connected by tracks and the value of the area would be increased as a tourist resort. Mi-. Perelle stated that there was

only a limited amount of money available to develop the tourist resorts and he hoped that when the next estimates were brought down he would be able to do more. The Department recognised the value of the tourist traffic and were out to develop it <pid were now arranging tours from Australia and other parts. They were alive to the situation and this district would participate in the development of that traffic.

Mr. Collett stated that the Surveyor General was* going to inspect the Maruia Malley and its environs with regard to the reservation of scenic areas and if not on the site, was on the road at present.

Mr. Clayton considered that if an area of ten acres were reserved, for a camping area it would be sufficient, they would have to cater lor the whole of the people of N.Z. and a hostel was necessary.

Mr. Blackadder asked for an assurance that the Government would not allow the water of the Springs to. pass into the hands of a single individual. This was practically promised.