"ADVERTIER" ESSAY COMPETITION.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 November 1912, Page 3

"ADVERTIER" ESSAY COMPETITION.

Which closed on October 31st. 2nd PRIZE—HENRY BATES. [Published as written.]

THE HELENSVILLE HOT SPRINGS.

The Helensville springs are mineral, and about 140 deg. in temperature. They are highly valuable for their curative qualities especially in rheumatic complaints. For drinking, they are equally valuable, being very good as a cure indigestion, aad dyspeptic complaints. At the first taste, the water is not very palatable, containing as it doe? a large amount of sulphur, but neoplo who drink it frequently, soon acquire a taste for it. Thewaters have been analysed and have been found to contain a large amount of su)phurio and hydrogenic gases. Sulphur abounds in the greatest quantities.

Years ago the Maoris discovered the value of these water?, and used them for various ailments. At this time the springs were undeveloped. They were surrounded by high ti- tree and gorse. Later, some of the ti-tree was cut away and the sides of the springs were boarded in. Some of the people who Lived in the vicinity used to wash their clothes in the water. Then later, the control of these springs was vested in a Local Domain Board. Since then tne work of development has been progressing steadily, with the assistance of several grants received from the Government.

Now there are splendid swimmingbaths, both open and enclosed. The open bath is about twenty-five feet long, and about twelve feet broad. It is about seven feet deep at one end and about four feet at the other end. It is cleaned out every Monday. The enclosed baths are porcelain, with the hot water laid on. There are tennis lawns, croquet lawns and a bowling green. These are to be opened next month. Ihe flower-gardens are very carefully attended to and look very pretty when the floweis are out. A cricket and football ground is going to be made too, A caretaker is in charge of the place. He generally ! has two or three men in his employ, besides the gardener. I A great many people come to the springs every year, especially those afflicted with rheumatics, gout, etc. There arc two boardinghouses just opposite the springs. Two conveyances run from these places, into Heleusville every day, to bring the people from the station. The springs belong at present, to the Helensville Town Board, but a proposition has been made of handing them over to the Government.

3kd—Miss T. WHABTON.

In nearly every country in the world there are hot springs. Li the United States of America tho Yellow-stone Park Springs are famous. In England the thermal baths at Bath attract thousands of people every year. Among the most notna hot springs in the world are tho Baden-Baden Springs in Gormany. Thorn are several hot springs in New Zealand ; the chief of "which are tho springs at Ivotorua. These springs belong to tho Government who have spent enormous sums of money on them. Splendid bathhouses have been erected, and the grounds are beautiful. The people of (Jhristchurch travel all tho way to Hanmei to make use of; tho baths. To Aroha has hot springs too. Waiwera is also noted for its hot springs. The hot water which fnrms the Helensville Hot Springs is supposed to come from a str.-.ta which is a contination of the Waiwora strata. The ilelensvilh; Hot Springs was first located by a thin column of steam issuing from th« tea>tree. When people first saw it it was a small spring of water bubbling from tin: earth: A short time after it was leased by Mr James McLeod who had a bore put down. Two wooden baths were made as well as a tank for holding cold water. If a person went to have a bath in those days he would have had to wait until tho hot water was pumped into the bath. When tho hot water was in the bath all ho had to do was to turn tho cold water tap on. It was later still that a larger bath-house was made with six wooden baths. It was some years later when the Government granted the town beard some money to build a proper bath-house. This time good enamel baths -weie put in instead of the wooden ones, A few years back another grant of money was made by tho Government. A swimming bath was made find a .shed erected. There o.re. now bolh private baths and a swimminp baih for the visitor's usg. The grounds are beautifully laid out. Plowcr gardens lino the drive and shell paths Bowling greens ar>d tennis iawu.s lu.vo ln-i'ii made. The bowling green is to bo opened on the seventh of next month. About sixty bowlers are coining from Auckland. A house has also been made for the manager of the springs. There are two bearding houses for. the acoommadation of the visitors. A. bus runs out twice a day. Tlie water oi the Helensville Hot Springs is sup--posed to be almost a.s good as that of Te Aroha for luediciual pwposes. People suffeiing from rhoumalisui come to llcleuisvillu to use tho baths. The water is not disagreeable to drink.

In the future when the Helensvilta Hot Springs become more popular the township will go ahead As the city of Auckland goes forwaid there wjll be more visitors to the Springs. The Grovdinment are proposing to take possession of the Helensville Hot Springs.