HAWERA’S BEACHES

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1935, Page 8

HAWERA’S BEACHES

IMPROVEMENT TO WAIHI TRACK. OHAWE AND MOKOIA ATTRACTIVE. Much better beach facilities will be available for Hawera people this summer than have existed in the past. There is a smooth area of sand at Ohawe, which will be suitable at all states of tire tide, much improved access has been provided at Waihi and Mokoia’s attractions are being realised more and more each year. For those who desire to go farther afield there is Kaupokonui. ,All that is lacking is beautification and further development, but at all tire beaches the scope for enjoyment of surf and sunshine and open air is there for the public to develop to an unlimited extent. Extensive improvements have been made to the track leading to Waihi beach. Previously the path down the cliff was unsafe, but the selection of a new route and much excavation by relief workers have made the stiff climb comparatively even. For some distance from the top the new, wide track follows the old track, but half way down a large filling has been made across the deep gully. To obviate too steep a grade a wooden stairway has been incorporated in the filling and a gentle and drained path then leads to the beach proper. There have been no half measures about the work, and rounded stones from the beach have been built into walks protective against erosion by the waters of the creek Reference was made to the completion of the track by Hawera borough councillors on Friday, when it was agreed that it had been done very satisfactorily. Imorovements have also been effected to the approaches at Ohawe, where there is a much larger expanse of sand now than there has been for some time. Safe surf bathing is possible at any state of the tide. At Mokoia, in the opinion of many, is the best beach of all three, and this opinion will probably be tested by others as soon as the weather is suitable for beach picnics. Within easy reach of Hawera, it provides the variety that is the spice, not only of life, but of the week-end holiday-maker. Kaupokonui, so much like Ohawe in some respects and Waihi in others, has the attraction of a good parking area and a river swimming pool as ' well as the surf. , , Although the weather yesterday was blustery and changeable, with two sharp showers during the afternoon, numbers of cars visited both Waihi and Ohawe beaches, the popularity of a jaunt to Ohawe resulting in traffic that occasionally amounted to a procession.