THE TE AROHA HOT SPRINGS.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 104, 30 May 1885, Page 3

THE TE AROHA HOT SPRINGS.

The virtues of the Te Aroha Hot Springß are attracting a daily increasing number of visitors. Mr Pond's favourable report upon the waters was anticipated by the testimony iof numbers of rheumatic and dyspeptic patients who had received benefit from a course of bathß. The local Domain Board has shown much enterprise and excellent judgment in erecting commodious and suitable bathing accommodation. A number of new private baths, with plentiful supplies of hot mineral water and cold Bhowers, are now available, and further erections are in progress. A brick pillar encircles the hot sodawater spring, which is greatly resorted to for dyspepsia. The Domain Board programme of improvements in preparation for the next season embraces the laying down of a couple of lawn tennis courts, and further planting. The erection of a special bathhouse for the Maoris has been completed. The hotels are also contracting for extensive additions, all of them having been taxed to the utmost capacity last season ; their very moderate tariff of charges — 25s to 30s a week — unquestionably forms one of the principal advantages of the*district, The cheap facilities for travelling, through excursions organised by Mr Hudson, Traffic Manager of the Railway Department, and Mr Murray, also contributed greatly to the popularity of this resort. Going by rail, the journey can be accomplished comfortably within the day, the train reaching Morrinsville a little after five o'clock, and the passengers being carried by coach a pleasant two hours' journey. Mr A. K. Murray opened up the Thames route by issuing through return tickets at the extraordinarily low figure of £1. Excursionists adopting this route can, by a small extra payment, go by coach, passing through the Thames borough and its suburbs, Parawai, Hikutaia, Ohinemuri,and the pretty gorge between the latter settlement and Te Aroha On the return journey the beautiful river scenery is seen to advantage in the passage down by one of the Thames Steam Navigation Company's comfortable vessels. This is one of the most enjoyable trips about the Auckland Provincial District. For others than invalids, Te Aroha has many attractions— boating on the river, shooting, riding, climbing the mountains, and fern -hunting in the charming gullies and bush. It appears from a return made by the Domain Board that over a thousand nonresidents visited Te Aroha during the first four months of this year. Next summer the number is sure to be very largely increased, now that it is known beyond dispute that these hot springs possess curative properties of the most extraordinary character. From Mr Pond's analysis, given below, it appears that the amount of solids is unequalled in any of the famous European springs, and the presence of lithia makes the water specially efficacious in the treatment of rheumatic affections. The water contains so large a percentage of soda that the springs are strictly soda springs. The report, however, speaks for itself : —

Laboratory, Hobson-street, Auckland, May 21, 1885. The Chairman Te Aroha Domain Board. Sir,— ln accordance with the desire of your Board, I obtained three samples of mineral waters from the hot springs at Te Aroha on the 6th of February. The samples taken were as iollows:— No. 1 bath— temperature loOdeg.Fahr ; No. 2 bath -temperature llodeg Fahr. ; the drinkine spring (above No. 1 batb)-;temperaturo 119deg. Fahr. The watera were taken from the springs early in the morning prior to anyone being allowed to enter the baths, and were all perfectly clear and bright samDles. These waters were all feebly alkaline, and strongly charged with carbonic acid gas, which, is constantly escaping from the springs in large quantities. The examination of this and other ga^es which thus escape can be determined more readily at the springs, and this I will take the earliest opportunity of doing. The lithia, a valuable constituent of these waters, is present in an appreciable quantity, but the amount of water at my disposal here for the purpose was not sufficient. I will determine the amount on some future occasion. The analyses show these springs to be very similar in composition. The3e mineral waters are exceedingly interesting, and will prove of great value medicinally. They closely resemble some of the European mineral springs, so justly celebrated ; more especially those of Vichy, Kms, and FachiDgen. Their curative value will be greatest in rheumatic and arthritic diseases, calculus, affections of the kidneys, and dyspepsia.

I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, J. A. POND, Colonial Analyst.

Analysis. Bath# Bath. Spring Sulphate of Lime .. .. 2 989 2 228 2 931 Sulphate of Magnesia . . "618 *336 '60S Sulphate of Potash.. .. 10*293 9800 10*79J Sulphate of Soda .. .. 27-516 28*0i6 25 43J Chloride of Soda . . . . 73*511 72-072 77 "i 8i Jicarbonate of Soda . . 728 737 G98513 682 122 Jarbonate of Ammonia .. 3 556 "112 98( Jarbonate of Iron .. .. '042 '063 '015 Jarbonic of Lithia . . . . (heavy traces) >hosphateof Soda .. .. 2"063 2203 r69( 'hosphate of Alumina .. '143 "023 *47f lilioa 8 568 8778 B'77J iulphuretted Hydrogen . . (traces traces traces] \3tal Solid Matter . . . . 857829 822*184 811*705 Results expressed In grains per gallon.