DUNEDIN AND ENVIRONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18765, 19 January 1923, Page 8

DUNEDIN AND ENVIRONS

“THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY.” VIEWED FROM A MOTOR CAR. . It may bo an anomaly, but, nevorthelss it is a truism, that tho man or woman resident in a centre for a long period 's after all lamentably ignorant of the attractions joossessod by their own town, scientifically ami otherwise—so ignorant, in tact, that (lie visitor is not faced with a very difficult problem when he sets himto accumulate more local knowledge than that possessed by tho average of the people whom he is temporarily amongst. Recently tho Dunedin Taxi Owners’ Association inaugurated a system of tours through tho beauty spots of Dunedin, and cars leave twice daily on tho various trips, the fact that over 140 passengers have made the trips in three weeks augurs well for the success of the enterprise, but it is a curious fact, and one supporting the statement made in the opening sentence, that the sightseers have been mostly visitors to v| e '; Lty - Fernaps tho citizen considers that he already knows his town—he may Know its streets and its principal buildings, but, after all, does he appreciate its lieauties apart (from those owing their planning largely to the hand of man? Dunedin is not only a place of streets, offices, and shops with a stretch of water up which sups come. There is a greater Dunedin— Dunedin Beautiful. Yesterday, at the invitation of the Taxi Owners Association, representatives of the 1 3 Council, of the Otago Expansion League, and tho press were given an opporunity to prove that the claims advanced on behalf of Dunedin as a city of natural Beauties are not exaggerated. Four car Bads spent about a couple of hours in a round trip’ that wa,s a most cnjovablo and exhilarating experience. Tho party included the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and

x.v T> °^ ,|as >- C’r and Miss Larnach Messrs F. W. Knight, J. Inglis A '- C ' J dlonß ’ and W. B. Steel, g of the Expansion League. Questioned by a reporter at the close of tho run, the Mayor said that the tour 2" , a « sv< g“ t ' on t<> him, although protiously he had considered that his know appreciation of Dunedin and its mcn?e,? d,ng3 vi' VCre i falrly sound - He commented on the advantage of the venture townspeople^ ° d theref ° re ’ indirootl y. *o the Mr Steel, who is secretary of the league, was similarly impressed, and he too looks somethin en + terf ? nSO ° f the tod-owners cs omethmg to bo encouraged, moaning, a<= Otag°o eS ’eap n itaT advertisement for the

THE TRIP. was maile from the Town Hall down y rJ!* tor 2 'i P ‘ m ' cars iirs t run dou, George street, turned up by the side nLto? r oodhau K h Reserve-arid, hey presto! Gone were the dust of the streets, tbe noise of the trams, the hooting of motors, and all the hundred and one sounds centrp° n V'Jl e - Parable from nn i '’ d u.driou S centre. .Nothing was to be heard but the purring of tbe car engines, th o gurgle of ItwJf Hl ’ a ? C th ? talk of ffto passengers. a fc starfb!? lo^! 35 lf a magician had effected a startling stage transition. further up the valley the bush grows more generouslv, thoL -’i Set m clum l ,s of it hero and ourt J e p d6nCe «-n re be seen - fussing fo ih f H,,l> "; hlch flani; s the road .n r . lght ’ i 1 menib <’r of the party rocahs that nearly 40 years ago a great fire broke out in Us plentiful bush. This conflagration lasted for weeks, and presented a memorable sight. It was also memorable a r,al| a fnr l° f *’? Smo^ e whi( * hung like a pall for days above the city. But where man has permitted, Nature has repaired arow d T ago; al i d nflfive shru hs once again grow luxuriously on several parts of the odl face. To the left is Leith Stream overgrown by the bush in parts and preRn | g H a Picture where the sun gives a glitter like that of precious stones. Now the cars are climbing steadily and after, close on half an hour’s ascent’ Sullivan s Dam is reached. Not so long a<r Q a sawmill stood on this site, and it is annaHs of r °fh 1 ‘i 1 ® comparative barrenness of parts of the bind that it was worked to considerable effect. A great part of this nmd ntl if 1S tlle , P r °P. ori .V of the corporation, and it is interesting to -note that the municipal department responsible has not failed tp remedy, as much ns possible, the destruction wrought by the mill. Firs spruce, and other trees of timber value have been planted on the hill faces, and they, so far as could bo seen from the car, are grownig well What their monetary value may be to. the city in years to come it be difficult to conjecture The party is still in the Lrith Valley which is opening up considerably. The n?ni t 0 13 drained .ancf a steep P‘ c, f , l 'P the Pigeon Flat road brings them to the saddle. From here an excellent view of the valley is obtainable, but the mist, which has been rolling up steadily prevents an outlook over to the faraway shore which, along with Soacliff, is discermble on a clear day. The valley at this point is over half a mile wide, and there is a feeling of regret that the timber which .nidging by the stumps that aro so fuse, must have made it an even finer sighc than it now presents from “the saddl» ” is no more. 1

The cars being turned about, the route next lay along the Wakari road to the Koss Creek reserve and reservoir. This is a popular spot with the hill people and a derailed description of its quiet, natural beauty and skilful lay-out should not be necessary The superintendent of reserves has spared no pains to exploit the natural facilities afforded the citv-wearv for rest and recreation here. Nothing is* obtrusive • all the erections and plants seems to fit into the scheme of an exquisite harmony The occasional note of a tut showed that oven that native does not look on man’s intrusion as altogether intolerable. There are good paths by which visitors can circumvent the reservoir.

Having enjoyed the sights and having been photographed in front of the rustic summer house, the party next turned into the road known ns “The Drive.” from which a snlcndid view over tho North-East Volley and in fact, all of North Dunedin, and far down the harbour is obtainable. Later the road is fairly closely hedged by beautiful bush. At one spot the snow was something to marvel at. The cars, one by one. slowed up at a spot which seemed to Ixi almost directly above the Woodhaugh Reserve. To look dowio on that spot with dozens of children at play upon it, then to turn the gaze and sweep a great part of tho city, including some of its moat im-oressive-looking public institutions, finally letting tbo eye stretch far down the mauve blue of the harbour—that was a sight winch alone would justify tho whole trip! Skirting the side of tho hill Greater Dunedin comes into the panorama, and so far ns sight-seeing is concerned, it ends with n magnificent view of Sout.fi Dunedin, St. Kildn, and St. Clair from the crown of Eglinfon road. The parly returned home, after an outing that was thoroughly enjoyable, within two hours from the start out.