TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15514, 22 January 1914, Page 9

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER.

A depot comprising members. of the Manawatu Philosophical ■ Society, Borough Council, and Chamber of Commerce waited on the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. W. F. Massey) as he passed through Palmerston North, en route to Wellington, and placed before him several matters in connection with the Tongariro National Park. Mr. Buick, M.P., introduced the deputation.

Mr. Salmon, the first. speaker, urged that steps •be • taken to preserve the forest around the mountains. The land, he said, was mostly intersected' by native blocks, into which the sawmills had cut their way. The- timber, ■ which was of comparatively poor value, was being destroyed and it would not take long before the whole place would be bare. The soil was of no use for agricultural purposes, being mostly of pumice formation. Without the bush the park would be spoilt. Mr. Massey said he could, not prevent the timber from being cut on native lands, and no native lands could be included in a national park. He intended going into the whole matter of the Tongariro Park, and would also have a look at the place. The deputation, however, was not to 'run away with the idea that it was going to get its desire. Mr. W. Park stated- that ..in 1908 Dr. I Cockayne had recommended an extension I of the area of the park, but the new area had never been gazetted. The present park was nothing but. a desert, with practically not a single tree on it. The locality was a beautiful one, and was recognised as a fine tourist resort. At present there was only a two-roomed hut on the mountain side,' and to accommodate the increasing traffic to the mountain, it would have to be enlarged. Her also suggested the erection of guide posts over the 10 miles of scoria from the hut to the top of the mountain, in order that people might reach the top without the services of guides. Mr. Park said he would also like to see a shelter erected at the top of the mountain. At present it was a strenuous task to reach the mountain top and get back to the hut in the same day. If the shelter was erected one. could stay in it overnight and effect a return journey on .the following day. Mr. Massey said, in reply, that he would do whatever was right in the matter when he had looked into it. He would see that the area spoken of was gazetted as promised. He was not going to give away, however, land that was fit for settlement. Mr. Buick suggested that the deputation should put in writing their desires, and. he would see that Mr. Massey • got them. This was. adopted.