A FINE SCENIC AREA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3105, 17 September 1913, Page 82

A FINE SCENIC AREA.

WITHIN EASY REACH OF DUNEDIN

THE BUSH-CLAD HILLS AT WAIPORI FALLS.

A GRAND AND RUGGED GORGE

It is only those residents of Dunedin whose business or pleasure has caused them to visit the hydro-electrical works at Waipori who have any conception of the wonderful piece of bush, river, and gorge scenery in the locality referred to. It may without hesitation be said that there lies in this region an asset of Dunedin and the Otago district' of enormous value not only as a tourist attraction but afi a spot which the residents of the city and suburbs will in days to come make one of their most favoured holiday resorts. The City Council is. in furtherance of its hydro-electric scheme at Waipori Falls, engaged on the construction of a road through the centre of the splendid piece of bush leading to the power house, and this will open up a charming spot. Already a good deal of bush is reserved for scenic purposes and in other ways, as sot out in an interesting description of the locality by Mr John T. Johnson, read at a gathering of members of the various committees of the Dunedin Expansion League recently, and there can be little question that the league will confer a distinct boon on its members and the public at largo if it will devote its energies to securing the reservation of the remaining portions of the hush. Wo have pleasure in appending Mr Johnson’s appeal for the jealous prcserv.at : on of the beuutv spot ••c----forred to, addressed to the Expansion League:—

I beg to place the following before the league for discussion : 1. That.it will be necessary to include all the remaining bush area in a permanent reserve.

2. That the enjoyment of this unique and salubrious area be made easily available to the residents of Dunedin City and environs by assisting in every way (a) the construction of the Dunedin City Corporation’s new roadlino to the power house; (b) the further extension of that roadline from the vicinity of the power house to the existing roads on the Waipori goldfield, utilising _ the abandoned flume benching as far as it ‘S available, wh'ch the City Corporation has kindly agreed can be used for the purpose. In support of No. 1. I might point out that a certain amount of protection already exists—for example, on the north side of the valley the greater part of the bush has been included in a “ scenic reserve ” through the efforts of the Hon. T homos Mackenzie, the then member for the Taieri. and proceeding np stream from tlys the rough broken nature of the country is such that its inaccessibility is a permanent protection to the timber growing thereon. Across the river, on the south side of the valley, about 400 acres are included m a lease to the_ Dunedin City Corporation, and this ensures the conservation of the timber already there, and the improvement of that area by further planting of timber trees. Those in whose hand the work of planting lies will. I have no doubt, if approached. disclose their plans to the Expansion Deague, and the opinion of many of its members would he valuable in securing that the planting is carried out in a way that will enhance the scenic beauty of the vallev as well as provide for purposes of utility. This part of the valley has for its distinctive feature a rough, rugged, and massive grandeur, and a mass of dark heavy pines could easily introduce a depressing feature, where lighter and more feathery foliaged trees would brighten and soften the landscape. Someone skilled in tile groaning of useful trees for landscape effects might he able to give suggestions that would he of great value to those who are about to earrv out this work. Adjoining the City Corporation's reserve is the "mining timber reserve.” This is an area from which the adjoining Waipori goldfieV) draws its timber supplies. It was reserved for this particular purpose when this class of timber satisfied the demands of the individual diggers. It includes the larger part of the best hush on the south side of the stream, and Should he included now in a nermanent reserve. T he rrqiiiremenis of the mining community have fallen, until now they draw less than £5 worth of timber per annum from the area, and if this area .were included in a larger scenorv reserve the privileges of the miners could still he conserved with respect to this part of the hush, and any inroads on the growing timber could he met by the replanting with suitable trees of the denuded area, the n£ vileiro of cutting timber not to apply to the artificial plantations. From tlm mining timber reserve down stream on the eolith « ; de the hush is. as far as I know, free from anv depredation, and it has been preserved so far by its inaccessibility. There was some part of : t included in the sawmill licenses, and a little inquiry would discover if these licenses are still extant’. I th : nk that they are olisnlete. the hush being included in the pastoral leases which ann’v to the adioining graz : ng land, and to which it is a valueless appendage. The inaccessibility which has «o far preserved a great nart of this hush is now being removed hv the construction of the new road between the power house and Berwick, and it is necessary if the bush in to he pro-

served that some immediate action be taken to secure this result.

In support of No 2 it is necessary not only to secure all the support possible to the construction of this road, but (a) to see that the route is the best (consistent with reasonable expenditure) from the standpoint of attractiveness and grade for general traffic. Most of the roads to the bush (though considered necessary at the time) will ultimately bo abandoned, and we should see that the present road is at last along a permanent route and one that makes the best of the district for every purpose, (b) This extension will open the most charming and rugged part of the gorge, and presents little difficulty. Starting a few chains below Shepherd’s Creek and rising gradually to the elevation of the tunnel an easy grade can be secured, and thence a dead” level run along the Hume benching brings one within a mile of constructed roads on the Waipori Flat. This section overlooks a grand gorge in which the river drops 600 ft in rapids that include some beautiful cascades, the opposite side of the valley being a rugged, bush-clad, precipitous mountain side cut w-th the thin white thread of the “ Silver Fall,” a small creek that takes a sheer leap over a precipice. The road where constructed will easily bo the favourite motor run for everyone who wishes a change. There is no place near Dunedin that offers so much variety of scene; the bush itself will be a favourite picnic resort; the creeks that intersect it will all be favourite holiday grounds; the powerhouse and its surround.ngs add an interest; while the gorge above and the goldfield will attract many. When the Waipori district is better known and connected with Berwick by a good road it will bo a great winter sports ground, providing as it docs ] good sport for skating, ski-ing, and snowshooing. and every effort should be made to bring it within easy reach of Dunedin. It offers also a c<ynplete change of air to those on the sea coast. The Waipori Flat is 1100 ft altitude, and the higher ground on the Lamrnerlaws rises to over 4000 ft. When Dunedin learns that a holiday on a different sea beach is really no change, they will in increasing numbers seek the warm bush land of the lower Waipori Gorge or the brisk mountain air of the goldfield. I would like the league to take the round trip via Lawrence to Waipori, thence traverse the goldfield to the gorge, and approach the gorge on the flume bench. Coming down in this way the scenery will appeal to them with a charm that will bo minimised by adopting any other route. The stops already taken towards securing the route, through the member for the district, the Hon. James Allen, and during his absence through Mr C. E. Statham, have resulted in an inspection of the route by the district engineer, and his report, I believe, has been favourable. Mr Statham has been over the route and was impressed with its beauty, and it remains now for the league to apprise itself of the attractions and poesihilitics of the district, and when convinced, as it will bo, of its worth, to assist in the steps necessary to conserve the beauty and attractions of the place and make them easily available to the general public.