Northlander Voices Comparisons

Northern Advocate, 23 January 1939, Page 2

Northlander Voices Comparisons

Returning from a motor tour through various 'parts of the North Island, a Whangarei business man aired some of his impressions and comparisons to an “Advocate" reporter. One was struck by the cleanliness of such towns as Waihi, Tauranga, To Puke. Whakatane and Opotiki. he said. These were small towns mainly dependent on n dairying community. Comparing them with Whangarei, one was impressed with the advantages which had been taken of natural beauty spots. In particular was this so near Tauranga, where historical sites wore well preserved and made show-places for visitors.

The waterfront at Tauranga particularly impressed the visitor. A beautiful garden flanked the harbour shore, while delightful lighting effects made cn attractive display at night. What Whangarei Gould Do.

“One could visualise what great improvements could be made to the Whangarei Esplanade,” lie said when discussing the beauty of the Strand in Tauranga. Although such beaches as the Mount (Tauranga), Waihi and Ohopc were beautiful, they lacked the rugged grandeur of Northland beaches, he said.

No less than 4000 people had camped at Mount Maunganui during Christmas week and the camping fees collected in this one week had amounted to £3OO. Every facility was provided for campers, who were made to feel genuinely at home in their new surroundings. The result was a constant stream of campers to this spot. Northland’s Notorious Roads.

“When the fact is established that the roads in the North arc not as bad as our Southern friends think, we can expect a big influx of visitors here,” he went on. “There are still beliefs abroad, that Northland’s roads are impassable.” While in the Bay of Plenty the visitor saw 5700 boxes of butter being loaded into a scow at Opotiki, the value of the cargo being £14,000. The carrying contractor to the dairy company paid in petrol tax last year no less than £I6OO.

“This will give some idea of the extent of this trade in the Bay of Plenty,” he said.

.Roads south of Auckland ,' were really splendid, although many were still only metalled. There were long stretches of tar-sealed highway between the main centres, and these made for very comfortable and speedy driving.

Attracting Visitors.

The Northlander had a word to say about Whangarei’s attractions. “In every hotel you go to, you see photographs of the Whangarei Falls, but, when people come to Whangarei to see them they can’t do it without getting their shoes muddy and their clothes torn,” he said. “They admire the Falls, but the trouble getting to them is not worth the ultimate sight.”