THE NEW SANATORIUM.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2123, 13 December 1880, Page 2

THE NEW SANATORIUM.

The proposed establishment of a Government township at Lake Rotorua will be noted with general interest. A good coach road to the site from Tanranga already exists, and, as the Wellington “ Post ” informs us, a road is now in course of construction from Cambridge in the Waikato district, which will bring Rotorua within a day’s easy journey by coach from the Hamilton station of the Auckland and Te Awamutu railway. All possible pains will be taken to secure the provision of suitable accommodation at moderate expense and to render the township in all respects a convenient and attractive sanatorium and place of resort for tourists. The salubrity of the climate, the fine scenery and the neighbouring hot springs will render the place a favourite resort for people in search of health and for travellers at large. Hitherto the difficulties encountered by all going to the hot springs were very considerable, and the accommodation there was almost worse than nothing. Indeed, real invalids were debarred from using the place, and were compelled to he content with visiting Waiwera, to the north of Auckland, where a capital hotel and other advantages are to he found. It will he seen, therefore, that the new plan will he of great practical benefit to all whom it may concern, and that there is every chance of the new township being a profitable speculation. The number of “ globe trotters ” who visit these parts are, as it is, very considerable ; but once lot a few good hotels spring up in the neighbourhood of the hot springs, and we may expect a considerable influx of invalids from the old country. Not to mention the attraction of novelty, the springs in themselves are unrivalled for certain complaints. Nowhere on the Continent of Europe, which is every year flooded by the sick, do such agents for health exist. And the factor of enticing visitors is no mean one. Switzerland for instance, may he said to grow fat annually on the English, Gorman, and American tourists. Thej find their health there, and they leave their money, and the Republic looks upon the tourist harvest as one of the supports of its national prosperity, and as one as certain to come round as the grain harvest. It is a harvest, moreover, not affected by any blight except the blight of war. In the piping times of peace the strange faces appear every summer with the same regularity as the swallows. This portion of the centre of the North Island may well feel disposed to date the commencement of a new era from this attempt of the Government to plant a township at Lake Rotorua.