PEEPS AT ROTORUA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1622, 13 December 1912, Page 8

PEEPS AT ROTORUA.

SCENES AND PEOPLE. A PEACEFUL TIME. [Bt "Mebe Mebe."] Of course, everybody who sees the Main Trunk scenery for the first time gets giddy about it, and wishes to spin words (of which the papers have had' many yards). Hence this recorder will be content with a prophecy of sorrow for some pilgrims of the' future. Passing through Oio, Owhango, Taumaiunui, and all the other "o's" and "uiV one sees stacks of timber showing that the axes and saws are being kept bright and busy. And the information that such-and-such a company has bought bush that it will take 40 years to cut out is evidence that there are still a few more trees to fell.

Stop! Look Out for the Tout! 1 . Famous for its well-known, delightful infirmial assets, Rotorua is also notable for the trout and the tout. An advertisement in the Railway Guide warns visitors to beware of touts at the station. They are dreadful birds of prey. The traveller has not only to fear a willy-nilly seaznre ot his luggage, but a pitiless capture. ot himself. If he is very timid,. nervous, and imaginative, he can picture Inmselt as the principal subject at a cannibal korero. Happily, this recorder was under the friendly wing, of a man who knew Rotorua wall—the trout, the tout, and all else. This valiant one had the glassy eye, adamant, and an ear that was deaf for the persistent persecutors. A scrumformed about him when he was wrestling with the luggage, and it seemed that he and the baggage, were to dc violently commandeered, but he fought hard, and won. The tormentors then looked for softer snaps, and one grunted in disgust: "Another silly 'un for the baths. Anybody meditating a trip to Geyserland should get? Dr. Wohlmann's booklet, issued by the Tourist Department. It is a mine .of .fascinating information, compiled in a.chatty style. With its comprehensive details, and analyses of mineral waters and other records, the State Balneologist's work is of. more than passing educative value, and perusal of it can be thoroughly recommended to other than the health-seeking student and casual tourist.

Ouiet Season so Far, > • Many steps have been notified off in ■the calendar of December, but liotorua is still very- quiet,- and wears- the demeanour of any country .town. .A Sic air of rusticity prevails m be ween the sulphur fumes. "The quietesttime. I remember since I'vei been hcre-andl Owls six years," said a Sanatorium attendant "Generally at this time of year they he tourists) are swarming on the place li*e rabbits." He accused the weather elsewhere than in Botorna, for, the dullness of the present season. However, like the big spider,-Koroma, is ™rijng for its flies when they do swarm into the parlour. .. .... .

A Few Types. ... The Maori seems-in my walks abroad to easily outnumber the pakeha- population. On the fine warm days now. prevailing, rows.of .wahines are> to be seen sitting on the doorsteps m the business portion of the town, holding excited .toreros with male friends leaning l a W££ against the windows or the verandah* pSsts. In the public works of tie.place, road formation, etc., many Maoris are engaged, and they are usually favoured- with I "circle of their, idling brothers-m -fie King's highway is du S info or cleaned up. A large section of the community is naturally formed of those taking.treatment at the baths a little world of cripp-lcdom, leaning heavily on sticks or crutches, limping slowly along. v There are those who are a-honeymoon-in-, quite a numerous contingent jnst now. You see them at the lake shore, along the Shady walks of the pardens-m fact, everywhere. The man either shy and diffident or as perky as a prize bantam; tuslady deeply conscious of. the new costume and the ring.

A Girl and an Apple. The real motto of Eotorua seems to be casualness-nothing apparently matters much. I went into'an office the other day to make an inquiry. I stated my business to the young lady there. She was eating a large apple. She took anotheT Vie. and then looked round in the quest. Nothing doing, she came back ,to the counter still munching, and shook tier head Not a word to one in a foreign land. My only thought was that she must be a member of a village choir and was savin' her voice for the evening practice. Sometimes a Maori pony becomes sufficiently energetic to bolt gently along the street, but it is quite pacified and stops placidly .when a small boy waves his arms at it. ' , . The chief industries here are the production of the Maori curio, the selling of the picture postcard, and waiting the advent of the tourist.

Gardens of Delight. The Sanitarium gardens constitute Potorua's trump-card. The wide drives, manv-hiied flowering shrubs, rose plots, the Malfroy gevsers and steaming Eachel Spring, the bowling, tennis, and croquet lawns, tea and bath houses, overlooked by the magnificent new bath pavilion, are something to brighten the dullest eye. Everywhere the trees flaunt splendid verdure This climate tempts the trees to compote in bfauty, but alas! it is a short and merrv life for some of them. A layer of hot liumice underlies the soil, and therefore"the trees do not root deeply. The storms take heavy toll. By the way. a friend and I saw a sparrow take -a bath in a pond near the fiachel Spring the other day. It fell in about ei»ht vards from the side of the pool, and then 'in approved fashion swam tn tho shore. We widely proclaimed that Phenomenal sparrow's feat, but failed to find believers.

Visions at the Post Office. A most restful plaeo to sit near and build : castles in the air is the post office. A wooden structure, painted in the orthodox colours, one can gaze contemplatively at it- and imagine himself in any backblock/ town; also whether it was ..built before the Tarawera eruption, or after. Peeping inside at a busy hour the staff can be seen trying to get out ot •each otWs way. There, is a vote on the intimates for better accommodation—and it is not before it is wanted. When the Postmister-Gcneral comes here to taJco the waters, and wnt the foundation-stone in place, a broad smile will certainly illumine the faces of the offices, and a paean of praise will be chanted by the local and bird-of-passage publics. A weepwillow tree in front of the post oflice speaks to every passer-by, as on it are tacked notices giving full particulars of the strayed horse, lost purse, and social gathering. |