LAKE ROTOITI

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 December 1932, Page 6

LAKE ROTOITI

ITo the Editor) Sir, —Your, correspondent “Sport” is under a complete misapprehension with regard to the position of affairs at Lake Rotoiti. It is true that a certain landowner has recently debarred the public from trespassing on his land, hut his two freehold properties form hut a minute, fraction of tlie many thousands of acres of land round the lake. The scenic reserve's and crown lands easily accessible from its shores and at all times open to the public comprise an enormous' area. Therefore to suggest that in future there will he nowhere to walk, nowhere to climb, nowhere to shoot and nowhere to get firewood, is manifestly ridiculous. It is also quite erroneous to say that visitors will not be able to go up No Catch Em. They certainly will not be able to make use of the lower part of the present track where it crosses private property. But it is quite easy to get on to the same spur by another route through the scenic reserve and it is hoped to have a new track blazed and cleared within a few weeks. Only grazing rights have been granted to the before-mentioned landowner over the grassy tops on the summit of the range, and I have it on the highest authority that the lease does not confer on the lessee the.smallest shadow' of right to exclude tiie public. We can all enjoy the climb to No Catch Em just as heretofore, hut with a slight deviation in tlie route.

With regard to the area of private property at the head of the lake, it is as well that the public should know that there are two legal roads which cross it and give access to tlie crown lands in the upper part of the valley One road begins on tlie shore of the lake and follows, along the western hank of the stream. The other road is a continuation of .the cattle track which runs along the eastern shore of the Jake. It crosses the stream and joins the first mentioned road, In view of these facts it is clear that the many great attractions of Lake Rotoiti have not been diminished in any appreciable degree.—l am Ctc.,

. u , .... , , F. i: G. GIBBS Chairman. Rotoiti Domain Board Nelson, 12th December.