FLOREAT AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 140, 6 February 1886, Page 7

FLOREAT AROHA.

(TO THE EDITOR.) Sir, — Having read " A Visitors" letter in your issue, of the 23rd ult I am lead to bring before your readers a few observation that I have made regarding the developement of Te Aroha as a sanatorium, .and begin by expressing my pleasure at the progress it is making. It is jast a year since I last was here, and at that time there were no bathhouses whereby to utilise No 1 and No •i springs, there was no electric appliance in No 3 <bath-house, and no drinking fountain. During the period the number of baths in No 3 bath-house have been greatly increased, and a dressingroom added ; the walks in the Domam have been much improved and extended, a "tennis court has Wen laid out, numerous seats supplied for visitors, and much has been done in planting the grounds Vith <i«oiduous and other trees. True it is that Government granted for improvements but we may be confident that exertions must have been made, to secure such a grant. That touch remains to be done all will allow', and the inference con be fairly drawn that those who have already put their shoulders to the wheel so effectively will not prove wanting in the future. In the town accommodation for visitors lias been much improved and increased ; and a clergyman of the "Episcopal Church has become resident. Altogether the promises for the future are decidedly good, and with the near prospect in view of the railway to Te Aroha being au fait accompli, we need not look very far ahead to see much further progress in store for this modern bath ; and which may result in its outstripping that favoured Somersetshire resort.— l am, etc. . , An English Visitor. Te Arolia, February 4th, IbB6.

(TO THfi EDITOR.) Sm, — A gentleman of notable shrewdness recently called on me after vi^itinsf Te Avoha, and his opinion was not complimentary to the place. Ho said there seemed to be no homes beino; created, no gardens, no permanency. I explained that owing to a craze of some political empirics no land could be purchased but only leased, and inferior though it is, at an annual rent of £25 per acre in the towns of Te Aroha and Waiorongomni, and that all the surrounding land (thousands of -acres) is Native reserve or Thames High School Reserve ; the former the Natives cannot use, the latter only serves to over-educate and impair for future usefulness a few boys and girls at the Thames. The Natives are legally prevented from disposing of their lands, and are unwillingly constrained to be " dogs in she manger," while the actions of the Thames High School Board and the Government indicate a set purpose to obstruct the progress of settlement. My friend said '• Thi* fully accounts for the dismal appearance of the place. The distmt never can prosper unless the people can secure permanent homes and homesteads on fair terms" ; and certainly lie is right. Are the people content to be the sport of theories, to support politicians whose stock-in trade is to prate aoout liberal land laws, and posture as public benefectors, while hypocritically tney care only to serve their own selfish ends, gratify i\mk personal ambition, and indulge th'eir 'egotistical verbosity t I would suggest thftt the Government buy all the laml except that which the Native personally 'occupy at its value, and pay for it in Government debentures bearing 4 per cent interest, the interest to be paid respectirely to trustees for the Natives and the High School Board in trust ; present occupants to have the option to buy at the valuation, and 10 per cent more in cash. The 10 per cent would be revenue for the local body to expend on roads drains, water, &c, the balance would bear an annual charge of 5 per cent forever, and of this, 4 per cent would pay the Government interest, and 1 per cent redeem the principal. the principal is, redeemed the 5 per cent would then be local revenue. New ap- [ plications would be decided by lot and be subject to the like conditions. This simple system if successful might be e*t^rided generally to Crown and' Native landi and various reserves. I believe that it would popularise arid people the lands of New Zealand on sound and successful economic principles, attract and attach people to the country and its institutions, get rid of the chronic cry of the unemployed and use to the best purpose the noble heritage which Providence has given to humanity in New Zealand. I need nofc now go into details, your readers can think over the matter as I have done and I believe that they will come to the same conclusion, that it might do yood for New Zealand. Meanw lile they would do well to be up and doing; so that when a dissolution of

Parliament Vestoms the power to t^e people they will m ike tli rt ir votv and influence felt in the Government of 'the colony. For. this and other matters a rotVimittea shoul'l be »ippointe*l, un-l.if prthlic m"eii.i^s are helil I wuul I Lidly aiteixl, hoping that Veforo I leav^ I might be of some ust 1 t" my fellow ■settlers <> f> the Tham «s Valley. Insteail 01 artilicial ob?tructions and taxation driving away old and tried colonists, liberal laws and honest ana prudent administration sl-oul.l induce them to l'omain, and attract thousands more of the best class to make New Zealand their home. — 1 am, &c.. Wm. Ar'oh. Muriuy. Piako, 28th Jan. 1886.