SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12055, 27 August 1902, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

THE GOVERNMENT TOURIST.'

DEPARTMENT.

CHAT WITH THE DISTRICT AGENT. A Herald reporter yesterday had an,inter-, view with Mr. E. H. Montgomery, district agent for the New Zealand Government Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, with ! the view of •; ascertaining something ot the trend of the Department's work and the prospects for the season which commences in November. . . ,' _ . Asked first as to the scope of the Department's operations, Mr. Montgomery said: "We give information to visitors and residents alike as to hotel 'and -boarding-house accommodation, means of transit, fares, etc., in connection with the various places of interest in the colony, and in all ways act as a buffer between tourists, travellers, and sightseers and those who might be likely to practise extortion. : We point out all the places in and about Auckland "worthy of interest, explaining all that is possible.", ,"Are you carrying out improvements in the Auckland province?" . .• " Oh, yes. ;- Take Nihotupu, for example. The Government have given a grant towards improving the approaches to , that place, and this season Nihotupu, the Blow. Hole- (which, by-the-by, rivals that of Kiama, New South Wales), and Waitakerei, will, we anticipate, witness a large influx of visitors. Last season it .was estimated that 6000 people wen* there." * , - ■ "How are these places off for accommodation?" / ' ... , . . "Many people are not aware that in tile ranges there are a number of good boardinghouses capable of accommodating a frrotV" meny guests. In the valley at the Blow Hole cottages may be had for the summer. The list of attractions at these places is numerous. At Karekare Bay, the beach, for instance, has a historic interest as being the place where the British warship, the Orpheus, was wrecked, and even now, in rough weather, wreckage is found there. Again, the splendour of the Blow Hole depends upon.rough weather for its proper appreciation. In the ranges,-' not only do you see the great' kauri trees growing, but also the pines ill all their beauty. One of . the difficulties of that district has been tho means of access, but with the Government grant we are shortly going to form tracks, and erect hand-bridges oyer the creeks where necessary, and so bring it into line with the other resorts of the colony. Waitakerei is one of the. few places where waterfalls, fine fern and bush scenery, etc., can be -enjoyed, and it will certainly make a lovely summer resort. Over in New South Wales steps have been cut - to the various waterfalls, and for the convenience of picnic parties permanent fireplaces, have been arranged, and the ranger cuts a supply of firewood for each, thus avoiding the indiscriminate cutting down of valuable timber. On very much the same lines we intend to exploit at our own doors." : *•■'■ '.' Do you anticipate a good season this year?" • :■'- ;r ' . "Yes. Already many people have notified us of their intention to come from various places to spend tho summer months in the colony, and to meet them wo have compiled lists giving all details about the wholo of the various districts. Also, we have compiled particulars of the fishing and shooting to be got in all the centres. We can inform sportsmen on all points as to the various streams and the kind of fish to be secured, and similarly with regard to shooting. This has never been dono before, and!from a sportsman's point of view it is.going!to be a great draw. Again, the Department are releasing deer in certain places." '•' < >V "As to the hot springs of the colony? " Well, at Rotorua the > lodginghousekeepers intend enlarging their premises to cope with the increased traffic, and a number of additions are being made. to the Sanatorium. All the hot springs throughout the colony are being reported upon by officers of the Department. At Helensville, hot springs have existed for some time, and the Department have,had samples of the 'water taken and analysed, and the report is very flattering/Another thing we are» doing is the opening up of the new round trip, Auckland to Auckland, by -way of Helensville, where the hot springs will be a feature; to Northern Wairoa, where fishing and shooting and a fine opportunity of 'studying the timber industry of the North are offered, and thence by coach and steamer to Kamo, with its soda springs and sanatorium, and on to Whangarei, whence the return to Auckland will be mado by steamer."-,-"What ground do you cover outside of the tourist business?" ' ■ • ■ '' "The.interests of the district and of the colony generally receive' our attention. Wo act from a commercial point of view in fostering and furthering the industrial interests. For instance, we recently had tenders lying here for the supply of meat to the troops at Gibraltar. Another branch of our. business, which is bearing good fruit, is the distribution broadcast of pamphlets and literature suited to prospective settlers, and advertising the colony. A recent instance of the success of this is that four families from Lancashire have been induced to come out by tho information supplied by us. Again, we furnish information as to the Crown lands for disposal, being ourselves supplied monthly with all details, maps, etc. ' We keep also the booklets of the various steamship companies, railwav time-tables, etc.. so that we can save tourists and travellers from the necessity of running about town to the different offices. Many oeople say we are rapidly falling in line with Switzerland in these respects. There is not a route in the colonv that we have not cot minute particulars of. In fact, this is a Government inquiry office, and we can oupply information on any subject . affecting New Zealand. The; Government are bringing out their own guide book shortly, and this will cmlwdy everything necessary. Thev ore also s;etKn[f photographs descriptive of Now Zealand scenery, a supply of which we shall shortly have. ,Yes, • everything points to a heavy season coming along." ■