The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1929. TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 3157, 5 November 1929, Page 4

The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1929. TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

In the Tongariro National Park, New Zealanders possess an asset, the value of which comparatively few have any conception. With the formal opening of the magnificent Chateau Tongariro, a new era is entered upon in the history of this noble reserve, of which so little is known, even .in the neighbouring provinces, and it is well that some publicity should be given on this auspicious occasion. The nucleus of the Tongariro National Park was presented to the Crown by Heuhu Tukino in 1887. After some time the movement for the creation of the reserve culminated in the formal acquisition of a magnificent stretch of country, comprising 149,470 acres, to be set aside for .all time for the people of New Zealand as a holiday, scenic and tourist resort. This property includes within its boundaries the glorious mountains,- Ruapehu and Tongariro, and the fascinating Ngauruhoe, together with thousands upon T housands of acres of magnificent virgin bush and some of the finest mountain, river and torest scenery in the whole of this Dominion. Even to New Zealanders, to whom beautiful scenery is so familiar to have become almost commonplace, this grand stretch of country is most impressive, while visit- [ ors from other countries who have had the opportunity of visiting the park are most profuse in their admiration of its wonderful appeal and future possibilities. The Tongariro National Park Board was established in 1922, since which time it has done splendid pioneering work. It was soon seen that the greatest need in order to popularise the Park was a good accommodation house, and as a result of lengthy negotiations the Chateau Tongariro has been erected at a cost of approximately £IOO,OOO ; providing ample and excellent accommodation for tourists and holiday-mak-t-rs. Situated some ten miles from the nearest dwelilng on an altitude of 4000 ft on the foothills of Mt Ruapehu, in the very heart of the Park this accommodation house should have a great appeal and go far to make the National Park famous. All concerned are to be congratulated on the formal opening of this fine building which is a credit to the enterprise of the company concerned and to the efforts of the Park Board Those who have visited the Park declare that it is one of the finest playgrounds of its kind in any part of the world—an asset that in years to come will prove of immense value to the country and truly a noble heritage. Let us jealously guard it, and do all we can to put it to its fullest and best use.