Hot Spring on the Wanganui River.

Manawatu Herald, 19 June 1894, Page 2

Hot Spring on the Wanganui River.

We are indebted to Mr Willis, .-.- M.H.R., for valuable information re- »- specting a hot spring on the bank of the Wanganni River at Kauaeroa, one mile below Jerusalem. When Mr Willis first heard of it some months a«o, he informed Mr Martin, photographer, of the fact, and" aSked r him on his visit up the river to photograph it. This he did, and Mr" Willis was so interested in the matter that on his trip down the riverfrom Pipiriki he asked Captain -„ Stuart, of the Wairere, to call thera ..* anil allow him to see it. On the arrival of the steamer, all pn ; ,,Jboard. hurried to the place, and wfirtf'rai^l gratified at the result Tho-^i^^^ about, 50it in circumference, api^'l^;'". though a cool stream was runfrajl^' inio it, the water was so warm a§ to bo above blood heat. The hot water from below was bubbling up in ten or fifteen places, and kept up a continual supply of hot water. Tonihu, the old chiet of the place, informed" \ Mr Willis that in the summer time the water was so scalding hot tha£Jie /x could not bear his hand in it, andjj -^ was only in the winter that the - stream was in low temperature, ow«,'" ing to the creek alongside being v high. The smell of sulphur was"" then very strong, and the natives about used it extensively for -i'heu« matism, skin diseases, aUd 3ttief maladies, for many of wtou&'Jfcj^iraiJ most efficacious. He &\B&*niLtM that he intended to make another channel for the cold creek, so thafc_ifc would allow the pool to be always hot. Mr Willis took a bottle of ' ttie, water for analysis, but of oourse' ;the sample is much weakened throagh mixing with the cold deek.'^M^iM. needless to say that the brining info prominence of this hot spring ia a matter of great importance :~to Wanganui, as the situation' ls i ofafi ofthe most beautiful on the riveri and there should be abundance of hot water to form a splendid bath, thus allowing tourists and settler^. aMe^ the opportunity of enjoying ..the lvi- 1 ury and healing properties of the 1 waters?. We shall watah with sbine interest the further development 'of this important discovery.— Hera Mi < |