NELSON'S NEGLECTED ATTRACTIONS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13420, 18 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

NELSON'S NEGLECTED ATTRACTIONS.

Mr. "Percy Bond, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, was the next speaker. He solicited the assistance of the Prime Minister towards securing for Nelson. adequate recognition by the Tourist Department of the claims of the city and district- as an attraction for tourists. He said that with the exception of the hot and cold lake districts no place offered greater attractions for the visitor than Nelson. For years past the Chamber of Commerce had been trying to secure pro-

from" the ToatisteiDepartmenfcj but their efforts had come to nothing. - When Mr., Donne was head of the Department arrangements" had "been made'for him to be taken round the- district, but he had never been able to make the promised visit. Mrt Bond referred to the Manila .hot springs', and said that the-Mttrchison branch of the Chamber, in with the Murchison County' Council, bid been endeavouring for a long time past to get proper facilities for reaching these springs, but had been unsuccessful. Mr.'te/'M. Wilson, the manager of thß^Tourist Department, had made several definite promises to visit Maruia, but had not yet done* so. Mr. Bond said that at Murchison Mr. Massey would have brought before him a request to have one of the scenic reserves on the road lifted. If this was done a beautiful stretch of bush would be destroyed." Local efforts would be largely nullified'if "the attractions of Nelson were hot given a more' prominent place in the ; official bureaux. The citizens of Nelson; were prepared to do a certain amount, and they asked the Prime Minister to use his influence with the Hon. Mr. Rhodes to secure a visit from Mr. Wilson to the district, and that he place himself in cation with the proper official,bodies at an oarly date. , Mr. G. M. Rout,-chairman, of the Nelson Advancement Society, supported the' request and said that one of the j objects of the society was to attract visitors to Nels~on. In the official guide t>ook of the Dominion no details\ w^re given of the attractions of Nelson*-in fact the word Nelson was not in the index. In the Takaka district they had caves equal to the Waitomo caves, and springs, lakes, mountains, and dea beaches that were 'unsurpassed. In fact the district abounded in scenic attractions. He asked that full details in regard to facilities for reaching Nelson, cost of fares, etc., should be included in the Guide Book. Mr. "Rout said that in spite of_ inadequate and neglected accommodation there were forty patrons at the Maruia springs last. year. Mr. Rout, in conclusion, spoke of the; urgent necessity for preserving the Jbeautiful bush at Greville Harbour, D'Urville Island. The area was at present let "under an occupation license, and the o'vvners M Tere falling the.'bnsh and, destroying one of the prettiest spots ,on the island.