THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1716, 5 April 1906, Page 3

THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

PROSPECTS FOR GOLD,

A GRAND SCENIC COUNTRY.

(Auckland Star.)

“You people in Auckland don’t know what a valuable asset, from a scenic point of view, you have in the Urewera Country,” said the Hon. Jas. Carroll, Native Minister, to a Star interviewer. “ Three-quarters of a million rough acres are there, mountain and valley, hill and dale, forest and glade, river and waterfall, combine to make the finest scenic area, if not in New Zealand, at least in tbe Nortfi Island. The King Country, beautiful as it is, cannot compare with the wild grandeur of the Urewera district.” Ia ten years’ time the area will, in the Native Minister's opinion, be tbe Mecca of the city dweller in search of a health-giving holiday. Four to six thousand feet above sea level, the air is gloriously invigorating, a fresh and delightful panorama unfolds itself from each hill top, and the rugged nature of the district will secure itsfpreservation in its natural loveliness. At pre- | sent the Urewera Country is, more or less, a land unknown to the ordinary tourist, for the reason that it is practically roadless. Mr Carroll, who was accompanied by Mr Alf. Kidd, M.H.K., Mr Gordon, his private secretary, Mr L. F. Davidson, an English journalist, and several English and Scottish tourists, spent over a week, a delightful week, in the country, travelling right across its heart, entering from Kotorua, by way of the Galatea Plains to Ruatahuna, ‘and traversing thence to Waikaremoana, the sea cf the rippling water, whose wonderful beauty is held to equal that of the famed Manapouri, in the Southern cold lakes district. “ But if Waikaremoana is a peer of Manapouri,” said Mr Carroll, “what will the spectator say when he sees Waikareiti. Set down amid the mountains, G4O feet higher than Waikaremoana, it is a gem of beauty. Seven islands break its surface, and in one of these is a pretty little lake, the whole scene being one of marvellous beauty. It surpasses all others,” enthusiastically declared tho Minister, who, like the raco of which he is tho “ little father,” has a keen eye for the beauties of nature. The angler will find a paradise in Urewera, the streams teem with trout, fine strong fighting fish, which give the best sport imaginable