The above Basil's note: I asked Gary about the relevance of this,

"The Wairarapa Electric Power Board, through their lack of foresight, ran into real problems with under supply as the beach grew and it got to the stage where bach owners had problems with low voltage, so not enough power. Electric motors used to burn out through low voltage. I had an electrician from Featherston who had a Wairarapa Electric Power Board certified voltage meter which he plugged into our home to measure the voltage. The law at the time required the Power Board to supply electricity not below about 210 volts. At times we were only getting 190 volts or less. In addition, the Chairman of the D.S.I.R. who had a house at the beach threatened to put a Government voltage tester on the line. I rang the chief engineer to complain about the low voltage, in a terse tone he told me that there was not a problem with voltage at Riversdale Beach. When I told him we had one of their voltage meters on the line and it was showing below 200 volts, he got angry and wanted to know who did it. I said to him this doesn't matter anyway because the Chairman of the D.S.I.R. was going to officially test the voltage because his wife can't even boil his potatoes. There was dead silence on the the other end of the phone and then said he would look into it. The very next week a new powerful electricity transformer was installed to boost the power".

Apparently, Basil often used the analogy that Masterton was like a long ladder with many rungs. At the top of the ladder was a huge bowl of fruit and everyone was trying their best to reach the top. At the bottom of the ladder were the unemployed, first rung the laborers, second rung the foremen, third rung managers, fifth rung directors and self employed, sixth rung managing directors, seventh rung successful entrepreneurs. And in every case all those below have the shirttails of those on rungs above them trying to pull them down to their level. Others would call it the " tall poppy syndrome".

I asked Gary to comment about the letter:

'" On two occasions this questionaire was sent the latest house and section buyers was to establish why buyers purchased at the Resort. It was sent out for two reasons - first, to ascertain where advertising money should be spent. Second, once and for all to silence some glory seekers or "credit thieves as Basil called them". As previously mentioned some Golf Club Committee members would state to Basil that if it wasn't for their efforts in the Club, Basil would not be selling any sections. Not only was this annoying when one views this history but it was ignorant especially when many of those who said this were "johnny come lately's " who had no idea of the resort's history. Worse, it was promoted by a long time member, stirring in the background. Ironically this same person also a long time Surf Club committee member also a local farmer stated that the surf club was the hub of the beach and implied the main success of the resort was because of the Surf Club. Basil stated that the survey made a nonsense of those trying to take credit where it wasn't warranted."

The Wairarapa public relations office and later Tourism Wairarapa would not recognise Riversdale Beach in their promotion or advertising for many years. Evidence of this comes from a newsletter/tourist guide below. Hence the great expense of producing own post cards, advertising and marketing. One manager of the public relations office in Masterton admitted to Gary that Riversdale Beach was considered private enterprise where as Castlepoint and Lake Ferry were more "the people beaches" . As the beach grew to be the largest resort in the Wairarapa with Basil and Gary's marketing in the newspapers, radio and television, it became an embarrassment to the Masterton promoters of how successful private enterprise was, they could no longer ignore this very successful resort.

Through Tourism Wairarapa and the Masterton Information Centre Gary got permission to join them in Wellington at the Winter Show building where Gary made a display of resort features which proved a hit amongst viewers.

Two letters above: Basil had ongoing battles with councils and this another example of ignorance of the beach's history and an example of what Basil had to put up with. Basil's aforementioned writings mention how he protected the beach front with logs and branches of trees by placing them between sand hills. After a southerly storm these would be covered with sand and began the formation of a new sand dune. He organised planting of marram grass in these new dunes and within little time a new sandhill had been established. Basil knew that many beaches suffering from erosion, for example, Surfers Paradise in Queensland, were establishing what they called buffer zones. These buffer zones in some places were up to 200 meters wide between houses and the beach.The idea being when the coast got struck by a huge damaging storm taking sand off the beach there was a time delay as the seas ate into the buffer zone.

Photos above: I asked Gary for comment of these photos significance :

"Basil was very particular where he planted trees and shrubs as not to interfere with views . He obtained three main agencies with Nurseries as he was responsible for organising the planting of thousands of trees, shrubs and flowers. In every new subdivision, he instructed that a Norfolk pine, pohutokawa phoenix palm be planted on every section. As each section sold the purchasers were told that if they had to remove any planted trees to maintain views that was okay."

"These photos show Pohutokawas planted by the Ratepayers' Association obstructing the view of Basil's house. The Ratepayers' Association previously carried out the same type of planting in the beaches southern reserve once again threatening properties views in that area. At no time did they communicate with the property owners to seek objections, it was almost like they were a law unto themselves as they went ahead and planted. The individuals involved did not have beach front properties nor had good sea views so were not personally effected. However, one of these individuals later cut many trees away from his own view which potentially created added value to his property when he sold. It was difficult for anyone to challenge them, as of course their public motive was to beautify and create shelter for day trippers. In Basil's time this sort of inconsiderate behavior would not have been tolerated, and proper consultation would have taken place between parties".

"Basil was a man of foresight and he anticipated the day when people would inevitably cut down most of the sheltering pine trees that he planted to create a wind barrier. He warned that, "When they cut them down there are going to be many complaining about wind unless they plant new ones strategically and there are going to be many views threatened unless they show consideration to others."