SOMETHING OF VITAL IMPORTANCE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 121, 14 January 1932, Page 6

SOMETHING OF VITAL IMPORTANCE

JOURNEY'S END.

(To the Editor). Sir, — Even in the Colonies it would occasionally seem impossible for people to see the wood for the trees. In 1899, while taking a round the world pleasure trip, I spent three months in New Zealand, and was so impressed by the marvellous weirdness and romantic charm of Rotorua, that now, in my old age, I have fulfilled the desire to re-visit it. I find the thermal wonders as amazlng and the natives as handsome, oft-voiced and courteous as of yore. But, oh! the lamentable difference in the aspect of their villages — Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa! . Gone are the picturesque whares that made ruch fitting dwellings to the gaily obed natives, and formed so approiriate a background to the setting of reysers, mysteries of steaming pools, and ponds of mud lilies. Now shoddy vvooden houses of the most meagre type have replaced them — ramshackle shanties that in many cases show none of the pride and care that were revealed in the more primitive whares. The resident population of Rotorua — both native and European — depends largely for its prosperity upon ;he tourists who journey from the furthest parts of the south to visit ts unparalleled natural wonders, and to view the noble Maori race in its latural surroundings. Consequently, mything that is permitted, deliber- j ately, to detract from the beauty and lonsistency of that setting constitutes \ grave blemish upon the attraction if Rotorua, and when perusing recent :ssues of your excellent journal it has occurred to me that if the worthy townsmen, who are devoting their mergies to tilting at the real, or 'maglnary, sins of omission and commission connected with the public dbrary, were to turn their attention to something that is in urgent need of reformation, then their energies might prove of practical service to the town. j But, unfortunately, as I began by saying, there are some people who never can see the wood for the trees! — I am, etc. j

Bporua, 13/1/32, j