Taupo's Baths

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 68, 7 April 1937, Page 7

Taupo's Baths

W. H.

HILL.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — On or about June 1, 1933, there appeared iu the journals of Hamilton, Rotorua and Napier a contribution by

myself dealing with the above heading. Since that early date a great deal of water — hot and cold — has poured out its life-giving properties beneath the Waikato bridge, and yet nothing whatsoever has been done to advance either the interests of Taupo, or as a tourist centre (for centre it must always remain, be it physically or on account of its varied attractions) to which all in need of renewed health in whatever form mnst travel. I was, and still am, under the belief that the Government was prepared to advance the xequisite sum for the commeneement of baths at Taupo on certain contingeneies, out I understand tho.se contingencies have not yet been agreed to, and all this while Taupo tourists who now arrive yearly in their hundreds are denied the blessing of the remarkable thermal waters of which Taupo district eau riglitly boast, notwithstanding the analyses of the waters of Rotorua, Helensville, and so on. It must he patent to all who have the interests of New Zealand at heart that the supine neglect of a resort such as Taupo calls for urgent public attention. Time and time again have respective Goveruments been approached with promises galore made beforo election, and yet nothing whatever has been even. attempted to satisfy the huge publie demand. I am- prepared to say that at a small nominal cost the Government of

the day will reap its reward a hundredfold given an eli'ort to consider the pros and cons of a scheme whereby tourists, bo they in health or otlierwise, can make use of .the valuable mineral waters now running to waste. I am well aware of places such as The Terraces Hotel, The Spa, the alleged A.C. Bath and so on, but none of these meet the demand of the travelling public a« I conceive it. Apparently the present scheme suggested and advocated by the good people of Taupo — that is, the scheme whereby the hot water is to be brought to Taupo from the precinets of the . Kathleen Bath at the Spa — -does not meet with the favour of those in authority, and to a point I am heartily in agreement with the belief that the cost hardly warrants the outlay. As an alternative scheme I would respectfully suggest that the baths be ereeted to meet all futuro conditions of health and pleasure, at what is known as Tahareps Point, actually at the true A.C. site, and directly on the beach, Hero is a national reserve of 10 acres, and at a comparatively small cost, certainly very much less' than the siiggested major scheme, can be built modern baths uncqualled in the thermal district whereby tourists might go, not merely for health purposes but to enjoy swimming and boating and sports of an aquatio kind, and so meet the future requirements of Taupo, which will ere long be the leading tourist result in the Southern Hemisphere. Wdre this palpable fact now recognised, the present Governmeiit, which certainly appears to have the people 's interests at heart, would not hesitate a moment to attempt, even in a small way for the time being, to advance the interests of Taupo as a National asset. Failing the scheme being under the aegis of the Government, would the latter consider private enterprise , adopting the above Bcheme, the said

3ite of 10 aeres being leased at a nominal rental for say 25. years? I trust, however, the Government wiU view this latter suggestion in the proper spirit and hasten at once to satisfy the clamour from tourists and New Zealanders for baths for Taupo. — Yours, etc., '

Taupo, April 4, 1937.