NEW BATH-HOUSES

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1930, Page 3

NEW BATH-HOUSES

ROTORUA IMPROVEMENTS

.Improvements that are being made in connection with the public bathhouses attached to the Government ,ia at Rotorua were noted by Mr H. Dcsborough. Wellington manager for I'bos. Cook and Son. who has been on a visit to Rotorua and' the Tongariro ouioual Park.

The Duchess hath building, lie says is io lie moved from its present site to a •mint not far distant, and is to be used as a storeroom for the baths generally. On the present site is being erected a new “Duchess.” which will absorb Hie old pavilion baths (Priest’s and Radium). The new building is being

constructed of wood, but in order to preserve the timber for as long as possible it is all being dipped in liquid bitumen before being used. Tlie Duchess building is just on thirty years old. It was named after the piescno Queen, when on her visit to New Zealand in 1901 as the Duchess of York.

The Duchess building, however, was an infant compared with the Blue Hath, which must he nearly fifty years Id. Mr i/eborough said he could renumber it 31 years ago, and it was not y any means a new structure then. So nr ic had not been touched, as it was lie only swimming bath for .men, hut he site for a new Blue Bath was being prepared at the back of the Rachel pool, when the old nursery was locata. ’1 ne new lunh would he more conenient in stricture and much more ttractive in appearance. It was antiipated that the new bath-house would e in readiness for the erul-o f-t lieyear tourist traffic.