ATTRACTIVE RESORT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17583, 29 May 1919, Page 8

ATTRACTIVE RESORT.

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

IDEAL FOR. WINTER SPORTS

IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND

During the recent spell of fine weather a considerable amount of progress has been made in the direction of improving the accommodation in the Tongariro National Park, and also in respect to improving the road access to the cottage which is now in course of erection. Some time a~o a contract was let to Mr. W. Salt, of W&nganui, for the erection of a new three-roomed cottage and for the construction of a track sufficient to enable light vehicles to reach tho cottage from the Waimarino railway station. A few details of the nature of the work that is being done wer? supplied yesterday by Mr. R. M. Algie, who,.as a membor nnd fix-secre-tary of the Huapehu Ski-ing- Club, j« keenly interested in the scheme of popularising this great potential scenic resort of the Dominion.

Mr. Algie. who has just returned from a short, holiday spent in the district, stated that, the new cottage is being buiit on the lower slopes of Mount Ruapehu. It is intended to provide sleeping accommodation for 22 people. From the site of the cottage excellent views can be obtained of the magnificent snow-covere 1 mass of Ruapehu, the volcanic cone of Ngaruanoe, and the long ridge cf Tongariro. The new cottage will be at an altitude of about 4000 ft. above sea levei. and will be about 11 or 12 mi!<js from Waimarino railway station. For six miles the" main Waimarino-To-kaanu road is followed to a point called the "turn off." From here a new road has to be formed over tho tussock plain which intervenes between the main road and the site ot tho cottage. Several creeks have al rep.dy been bridged, a tr.-.c-k has been cut through some 40 chains of very fine bush, and a suitable ford is being made over the Wnakapapa stream. On Saturday the first light dray was taken over three miles of the new track as far as the 'Haunted Wharo." | From the side of the new cottage, three routes, varying in difficulty, liave been found leading to the summit of Ruapehu; and the route to Ngauruhoe and Tongariro lies o'/or very easy country. It will be po.s- i :üble to climb any one of the three mountains in one day from the new cottage. OPPORTUNITIES FOR WINTER SPORTS. "If the Government can be induced to develop this park,'\said Mr. Algie, "the facilities for winter sports v/ill be unique; in fact, I am convinced that they will be the best in Australasia. The slopes of volcanic mountains are generally uniform, and are ideal for ski-ing and tobogganing. In the course of a few weeks, Mr. Salt will clear away a quantity of long grass and tussock in order to make a ski run handy to the new cottage. This run will be nearly a quarter of a mile in length, and will be so gradual in slope as to be attractive to beginners. It will terminate on the grass flat on which th-3 new cottage is situated. 'The sport of ice-skating, too, has been considered. It is intended to construct a small dam in a little creek about five minutes' walk from the cottage door. This will make a shallow lagoon, which will freeze readTly, and which will be quite free from danger. Those who wish for more exciting sport could walk to Lake Tama, which freezes over every winter, and which is large enough for hundreds of skaters. So far as this park is concerned, it is possible to indulge in ski-ing and tobogganing either in summer or winter. POSSIBILITY OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY. "During the last two or three years there have been some noticeable changes so far as thermal activity is concerned. The great geyser at Ketetahi, oa Tongariro, now sends out its column of steam and boiling water some 15ft or 20ft from where it originally was. The large crater and vent-hole on Ngauruhoe were much filled during the last eruption, and the crater is now shallower by about 2|>oft. The large crater lake on Ruapehu appears to have been fairly active also, for the snow slopes leading down to the lake seem to be much more heavily coated with sulphur. "I am not sufficiently acquainted with volcanic phenomena," concluded Mr. Algie, "to say that another eruption of Ngauruhoe is imminent, but. during my stay this time, a column of black smoke did issue from the crater, and I believe this has not happened for some lime. This possibility of volcanic disturbance adds only one more wonder to the vast attractions of this most interesting district."