SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1885.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 100, 2 May 1885, Page 2

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1885.

The courteous reception accorded to the deputation who waited upon Mr O'Connor, Under- Secretary of Public Works, on Thursday, and the evidently favourable impression made by their representations, encourages the hope that something will be done by the Government to make the bridge immediately available for traffic. As a thoroughly practical man, Mr O'Connor comprehended at once the importance and reasonableness of the request urged ty the deputation. The approaches to the bridge have to be made — the contract for the work is actually let, and it is a mere matter cf arrangement with the contractor to make the expenditure that has already been incurred at once useful. We have little doubt that the Public Works Department would have provided for this in the original specifications, if they had fully understood its local importance. There is no reason to suppose that the d 'partmcnt, or iis officers, are indifferent to the public convenience of even so small a centre as Te Aroha ; on the contrary, talcing Mr O'Connor as the representative of the service, we are more than justified in believing that the officers are anxious to do their utmost with the means placed at the disposal of the Government by Parliament. It is easy to undei stand, however, how, in the press of work, matters dependant upon local knowledge may escape attention, and hence the public u/ility of such periodical inspections as that now being made by the Under-SecreUry. The deputation acted wisely in not introducing any extravagant demands. The request for the construction of a bridletrack to the summit of Te Aroha mountain was a very moderate one, and at the same time a work tending to increase the .attraction' of the district as a sanatorium. The Government have spent thousands of pounds upon Kotorua, and have cut a track to the higher ridges of Mount Egmont, which is very rarely visited. Without indue local prejudice, we think the natural advantages of this district as a health resort have not received the attention from Gorernment which their high value entitled them to. The Hot Springs have been proved to possess curative properties of a very remarkable kind, and the supply of medicinal water is abundant anil varied in its properties. The magnificent wooded Mountains are a feature in the local surroundings which cannot be found in any part of the Kotorua district, and one of much importance in the endowments of a sanatorium. The pleasant river and fine agricultural territory around, are also qualifications which must not be overlooked. A good deal of private enterprise has been shown in utilising these natural advantages, and the people who have done so much for themselves And the public, <may fairly expect a moie liberal share of Government aid. ;The horse track up the mountain woiihj be a splendid addition to the local attractions, and we hope the work will be carried out even if it be' necessary for the residents .to put their bands Luto their own pockets in order to get a Government subsidy of £2 for j every pound raised locally. Those who have invested their capital here fully recognise that the permanent prosperity of the town is now bound up very intimately with its popularity as a sanatorium, and they will, we are sure, be found ready to co-operate to any reasonable extent for the attainment of that object. The Government, however, shoulH also remember that they are not less interested than the resident population. They have constructed a railway which will derive a large portion of its revenue from tourist traffic, and a few hundreds of pounds spent in the directions pointed out by the deputation,, will return them a very handsome profit. TftE local option vwte, to decide whether j an increased of publica* s licenses, shall, of shall not, be granted in this district during the ensuing threo years, will be taken at the Court House Te Aroha, from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. to-day. We are most anxious that a large number shall make it a point to record their votes on this occassion so thai the stigma of luke-warmness on so impcr-

bint ft snlijopt shall not be desprve'l. j To increase the number of publicans' licenses in this district would be, we consider, ft great mistake. Let tho oxisting lie onsotl houses provide the increased , accommodation required. Move pul lie houses nieana det<rioration in the character and status of the hotels in the district, and low class houses everywhere foster drunkenness, poverty, and wretchedness generally. We hope to yet see Te Aroha a household word throughout the world as a sanatorium, it behoves us, therefore,, to soe to it that nothing likely to mar the com fort and pleasure of any resorting hither be permitted. The question as to whether the number of licenses shnll, or shnll not, be increased has to be answered by the residents themselves ; let them answer it in the manner most becoming the Mmjsl interest of the community at large.

Waiorongomai School Committee meeting on Mondny evening next. Meeting" to-night re opening of the railway bridge for traffic. See advertisement. A meeting was held at W«rren'« Hotel on Monday evening last re making further efforts to have the railway time-table to MorrinBville altered, and Mr Mills was deputed to proceed to Hamilton on Tuesday and interview the district traffic manager? jytr Hudson. Mr Mills states that Mr Hudson expressed himself aa being most desirous of furthering the interests of the district, as far as lay in his power, and promised to urge Government to despatch a second train on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, to arrive at Morrinsvilio about 3.30. The election of three members to the Waitoa Road Board, takes place to day at Moirinsville. Considerable interest has been manifested in the district referred to, with regard to the result. The retiring members, Meisrs Gould, ChepmeJl, and Turnbull, have been nominated for reelection, whilst Messrs W. A. Murray, Moffat, Evans, and Horrell have also been nominated. A marriage was celebrated at Shaftesbnry on Wednesday last. The happy pair being Mr Blackett, the local school-muster, >»nd Miss Birker, also of Shaftesbury. The ceiemony was performed by the Rev* T. J. Wills at the residence of the bride. The affiir was kept a strict seciet up to the lust moment, and none of the .settlers were aware of the event until after it had taken place. The annual teachers 1 meeting of the Aroha Wesleynn Sunday School was held on Tuesday evening last, R«>v. T. J. Wills presiding. Eighty-eight children were luporh das at present on the roll. A clear balance-sheet was shown. Mr L.ivery was elect-d Superintendent for the enduing year wee Mr Uotl (resigned). Mrs Blnneowp was elected S/oretiry vi> c Mr A«hby (leaving the district.) The teachers were re-ek'Ct'd. At a meeting of the Th.imes Football Club, held on Wednesday last, it was resolved that the Secretary communicate with the Te Arolia Football Club as to the next competition for the possession of Mr Ehrcnfried's cup, taking place on the Queen's Birthday Anniversary. We direct attention to Mr W R. Bridgman's (Auckland) new advertisement in this issue. Mr Bridgman has a very large selection of new poods to choose from and prices quoted are extremely low. Parties purchasing are sure to get really good value at this establishment. The correspondent of the Auckhnd Her.ild, writing from Morrinsvilio, thus refers to the completion of the railway to Aroha .'—"As the list of visitors to the Te Aroha baths,J published weekly, shows the traffic on the Hamilton-Morrinsville Hoe is as large as that either to Te A war mutu or to Cambridge, we are therefore* entitled to every consideration in the formation of a new time table. But it is not alone as regnrds the time-table that the interests of the travelling public visiting Te Aroha needs to be considered. The Government have just let the completion o? the railway section between Mor rinsville and Te Aroha, and have allowed the contractor ten months in which to execute the ivork. Meantime travellers will have to be conveyed as now by coach from Morrinsville to Te Aroha. This ne«d not be. The time allowed for the completion of the line is altogether unnecessarily too long. I speak authoritatively when I 8a} r that the contractor could have the line ready for opening by the Ist of November. As it is the contract provides it shall be finished by the Ist of February, and maintained until the Ist of March. Why not offer a bonus to the contractor get the work done by the Ist of November, to be maintained until the Ist of December, and then opened for general traffic ? It is freely said that the contract time was made thus long to defer payment in full as long as possible, but this surely could not be the cane. Surely it is worth While to make some concession in shape of bonus to the contractor to have the line completed three months earlier, and at a time of year when large number.of people will be travelling. Surely, ii the traffic on the line is to ha worth anything, the sooner it is opened the soone will the line be a source of profit to thcolony. If the Government will not d" this, the contractors should be allowed ti» work' the lino from the time of its com •pletiou tt) the {iate pf its b,ein# taken oven as a speculation on their own account, paying the Government fgr the use of th/v necessary, engine and drivers, and the car liages and trucks."

Professor Rice gives his nVml .entertain- j ment during his present visit, in the Public llixW to-to'g Jit, and will, we anticipate, havo a very crowded house. Without doubt the Professor is a remarkably clever man, and those who put in an appearanco to-night will not be disappointed* Those who were present 6n ' Tuesday anil Wednesday evenings expressed themselves as greatly pleased. Popular prices of admission, and a really first-class entertainment. To suit those living at Waiorongomai, arrangement hava been made with Messrs Gallagher and Bradley and 00. to dispose of tickets at Is 6d, 2s 6d, and 3s 6d t which will include return bus faro. Portion of the ground situated at Te Arolm, formerly held by the Golden Hill G. M. Co., has been pegged out afresh on behalf of the Arolm Mining and Prospecting Association, and is to be called the 11 Afghan" Claim. Mr Lawless, late of Auckland, has now opened that large now building immediately opposite the entrance to the Hot Springs Domain as a first-dap boardinghouse. The position is aoStesirable with regard to visitors and invalids resorting to our hot springs, that the house is bmnd to be largely patronised. Visitors can rely upon receiving every attention and comfort. List of Visitors to Hot Baths -—Mr Kelso, Mr W. H. Clark, Mr and Miss Fairbourn, Mr A. J. Clark, Mr Geo. Wood, Mr W. Read. Mr and Mrs Edson, Mr Winter, Mr G. H. A. Purchas, Mrs Peacock and Servant, )Mr Hawkins, Mr Murtain, Piofessor Rice, Mr G. Gilmer, Mr 0. McLean, Mr Alex. Smith, Oapt. Lindfera, Mr D.tyroll, Mrs Taylor, Mr .John Grey, Mr F. McGuire, Mr Fenton, Mr Stafford, Mr J. K. McDonnell, Mr Tennent, Mr and Mrs Leys, Mr Gladding, Miss E. J. Gribble, Mr O'Sullirnn, Mr Howard, Mr Grant. Auckland ; Misses Hamilton (2), Mr Geo. Harconrt, Mr Bagot, Mr Kenrick, KM., .Major Peel, Mr Brown, Mrs Smith, Mr Jas. Craig, jun., Mr Foy, Mr J. hartley Miss E. Coney, Rev. W.R. Woolley, Miss Rowe, Thames ; Miss Law, Dunedin ; Mr Lash, Hawera ; Mr Livingstone, Mr Booth, Hamilton ; Mr and Mrs Cameron, Chnstchurch ; Mr J. ivnox, Mr Hoye, Waikato ; Mr Kenrick, jun., M.itamata ; Mr and Mrs Tolley, Tamanga; Mr D. McDougall and Servant, Mrs Winder, Mi Chas. Crutchfield, Queensland ; Mr C. Y. O'Connor, Under-Sec. Pubiic Works, Wellington : Mr J. C. Long, Manchester, England ; Mr Bates, Opotiki ; Mr Meels, Rukukia; Mr Honnu, Onehungu. Meeting of the Prospecting Association to-night. The usual monthly meeting of the Waiorongomai Band of Hope was held on Friday, 24th ult. Mr H. Buttle occupied the chnir, and Miss Gribble, from Auckland, presided at the organ. There was a large attendance, end the programme, consisting of songs, readings, recitations, duets, etc., was very creditably gone through. Mr Geo. Robertson recited a piece entitled " The Colonial Boy," composed by Master Edward Green. Mr Mackweod, at the conclusion of his song, was loudly applauded. At the close of the meeting seveial aew members were enrolled. The Wellington Industrial Gazetta of April 20th has the following :— "The Aroha baths (Thames district) are attracting ago >d deal of attention. The "Aroha News" gives a list of visitors weekly. During the week ending April 4th about | eighty persons of more or less note visited the natural hot baths ; and the list for the following week contains the names of noirly a hundred, principally well known Auckland settlers with a sprinkling of tourists." An Entraordiuary Gazette was published further proroguing' Parliament to Friday, the Bth of May.