ROTORUA'S FUTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19795, 16 November 1927, Page 14

ROTORUA'S FUTURE.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. IMPROVEMENT IN ROADS. MARINE PARK PROPOSAL. EXPANSION OF SETTLEMENT. Freed from the incubus of leasehold tenure, "which gave no right of renewal and no compensation for improvements, Rotorua is awakening to civic consciousness, and is beginning to forge ahead. Progress is expressed not merely in better buildings and a higher form of architec- • tural art. There is a new spirit in the town and a stimulus to enterprise that will in time become worthy of the wonderful heritage of the thermal wonders. More through happy chance than anything else, the growth of the new spirit synchronises 'with a number of other factors making for greater prosperity and greater stability. The main highways system, for the initiation of which Mr. Coates has not yet received a sufficient measure of gratitude from the whole country, has effected in two or three years a change in the condition of tho Botorua roads which would have been deemed quite impossible a few short years ago. In a tourist centre in a motoring ago the new roading standard is of outstanding importance. Handicap Removed. Rotorua's roads as they used to be were a sorious handicap to the tourist (industry. Thousands of wealthy people from over,*e:is who had no reason for curtailing their visit to Rotorua did so simply because of motoring discomfort. Accustomed to smooth roads, they were quickly distressed by the shaking they received on any road around Rotorua, and, having _ seen a sample ot tha sights, departed. No longer does the district suffer this handicap. Another factor that is helping to build the town and give it greater stability is the rapid development of surrounding land. This development has just begun. There remain large areas of virgin cou" try to be settled, but wliat has been accomplished in a decade is adequate pi oof of the soundness of the resources oi the district from a farming point of view. In 1910 the output of butter in the district ■was 25 tons, by. 1915 it was 90 tons, last season it was 500 tons, and this season it may exceed 700 tons.

With sheep there have been impressive results. Quality sheep are being bred under, good management, and the weight of fleeces obtained by some of the flockjnasters this season has been extraordinarily good. The farming outlook is therefor very good, and much better than is commonly supposed by those with a superficial or n'rejudiced knowledge of the country. With a tourist, as well as an assured farming industrv, Rotorua may look forward to a wonderful future. Longer Tourist Season. The tnotor appears to be bringing about 1 • another beneficial effect to the town. The tourist season bv this reason is tending to become a longer one. Some of the xrfore expensive houses report an exceptionally good winter, and while the average proprietor of .accommodation still expects to have his year divided into sharply marked fat and lean periods better times are generally anticipated. For the coming Christmas period, booking has been very heavy. Weeks ago normal accomodation was fully booked and the position for some time has been that people desiring to stay for less than a week have found arrangements difficult to make. ' Perhaps,"the most important single consideration in the mind of the town is the reconstruction of the road over the Mamaku Hills. The day is being eagerly anticipated when this road will be a sound all-weather road, for that will not only mean a constant stream of traffic, but aifio will bring Rotorua within the list of Auckland's week-endine holiday places. Already the road is fairly sound, and has heen carrying regular service cars. The surface is of rhyolite, which wears rapidly and quickly becomes greasy, but, so eager are the far-sighted people of Rotorua for a road of hard metal over the notorious hills,' that the. Government was asked what subsidy would be available if Rotorna found £IOOO toward metalling. The reply was a subsidy of £4 to £l. A fund 'is now being collected. Ideas of this kind disdose a spirit of self-help in a town that has long been regarded as one which Wanted the State to do everything for it.

Upkeep of Main Roads. As to the surrounding roads, the Public Works Department, acting for the Main 'Highways Board, has made itself responsible for the upkeep cf the main roads, the county paying a small contribution. It has a" number of power tractors in constant operation, including a seven-ton • grader and roller combined, and although long stretches are only pumice, constant maintenance and prompt attention to ■weak spots has made their, fast and comfortable all-weather roads. There are ; some classes of pumice, of a gritty nature, vhich make a wonderful road that will carry almost any traffic, provided grading is not neglected. At the present time ..the roads are 50 per cent, better than •they were two years ago, and motoring - around Rotorua has lost most of its. terrors/' There is some prospect, although •'the information is not official, that some sort of oil dressing of the pumice roads ■will be carried out. A new road of eieht miles from Okere to Hamurana, which 'will provide a circuit route around Lake Potorila, important not only ffjr tourist traffic, but also for the growing stockraising industry east of Rotorua. is -now ' being formsd. The best indication of the new standard of the surrounding roads is found in the time-tables of service cars. They run the 56 miles to Tauno in two and a „ half hours, and to Whakatane, a similar distance, in the same time. Oishorne, 200 miles distance, fs reached in 12 hours, and Waitomo, 80 miles away, is reached in fivo hours, througli connections at Hamilton. Park Along Lake Shore. A movement is on foot to improve the attractions of Rotorua. It is recognised that the evenings for tourists, particularly the younger people, are inclined to be a little dull, as far as- public facilities for amusement are concerned, and a com- - mitt.ee of the Borough Council is now pre- ! paring a scheme for the development of the Marine Parade, along the shore of Lake Rotorua from Ohinernutu to the bath house, as a play and entertainment area. Until recently it whs a kind of .< rio man's land. Tho" council secured the 10£ acres, which has nn average width of about 100 yds., dedicated it as a street, and then as a park. Briefly, tho scheme, •which has not yet been formally before the council, is to erect a large pavilion suitable for dancing and for the accommodation" of conferences which are more and more to the town, to lay down tennis courts that, will bo electrically lighted, and create play, fpcilities for children for lake bathing. The scheme may involve a lonn of £7OOO to £IO.OOO, but it is considered the revenue from the dancinc pavilion would pay the interest. The site is a most attractive one. and Fnch a park as is proposed, brilliantly lighted, and emiipped with nn outdoor radio, would nnnuestionably add to the at'"<ictions of Rotorua. Every menus of creatine the curmvnl pnirit in Rotorua shoild be exploited. Every achievement in that direction will increase the volume of tourist traffic.