THE ROTORUA DISTRICT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 434, 17 February 1909, Page 4

THE ROTORUA DISTRICT.

1 . ■ EXCEPTIONALLY BUSY. (11l TELEQRAPIf —SPECIAL COUItESPONDBNT.) . ' ■ ROtOfua, February 16. Rotorua is exceptionally busy. The hotels arid bbardinghouses aro doing an' excellent trade, and aided by the line weather that ■ is being experienced • the' season is proving an altogether successful one..'. The season so far as oversea visitors are. concerned, was somewhat late in'; starting, but there was a very largo, number of Aucklanders and other New Zealanders holiday-makers during tlio Christmas and New Year holidays; and thus .the traffic to and from Rotorua has: been -very large since December. Improvement in the means ..of communication, with other portions of the* Dominion must necessarily have a marked effect. on the traffio of . New Zealanders: to. .the thermal springs, district. : The ' temporary,: service ovor . tha Main Trunk Railway has ; already had a nbticeablfe result in . this. respect; and \tho starting of tlio through express trains, is likely■ to •do a great deal' more to draw ; southern visitors. A large, uumber -of New Zealanders in the - southern ■ districts have made their first;: visit to Rotorua- this seasoir, and it may also be €xpect6u th.it tho opening of the railway would do a;| great deal to assist the winter as well as the summer traffic. The new bathhouse at Rotorua is now being well patronised, and! it '.is-, stated that it bids fair to become a . very ; profitable undertaking.- The other baths ill' the 'Sanatorium grounds still claim their share of attention, and the new "spout',', baths, at Whakarowarewa, which are now ; being 'completed,.'will bo a welcome addition; to tlio attractions-Tof' that . interesting spot. The lighting of the' Sanatorium grounds,' and Rotorua generally,; affords much room for: improvement, bnt as additions are now' being made to the electric lighting plant,, which;, it, is stated, will double the power, the'removal of, this cause for .complaint may b« looked for. The fishing also; requires .attention, and it will be gratifying to anglers .to Jearn from the Prime, Minister's recent statement, that th 6 Government intends tc move in this matter at. the "proper time;" That the lake is over-populated with trout is undisputed, and a, judicious "thinningOut," under a properly-regulated system, for: the. disposal of-..the surplus fislr by . sale,would be good for the remaining fish, and for the interests of the sport, and Rotorua in eeneroL ; :-