CORRESPONDENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2097, 23 April 1898, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE .

Under no cte’.iuiiMtuin'fts whatever is the Editor responsible for mutter continued in correspondence ]

(To the Editor). Sir,-—Aa I understand there has been aome little controversy as to the site of the Warden’s first camp on the opening of the Aroha goldfield in 188$, will you permit me as an old identity to volunteer some information. Last Wednesday, the 20th instant, was the 12th anniversary of the planting of tiie fii at oak ip the Domain by myself, as may be proved on reference to an entry in the old visitors’ hook, on 20th April, 1886. It is there recorded tuat the tree is planted on the site of Warden Kenrick’s tent. A small building was subsequently erected for the Wardeu’s Office near the tree to tlie right of the central gate, My tree has. pot thriven so well, 1 am sorry to see, as the bthers, owing to it having been planted in a low place where there was much mineral in the soil. But it Jpias given me much pleasure to witness the' splendid growth -of the numerous, oak trees planted in various parts of the Domain, the majority of which wore presented by me to the Board Some months later. It may also be interesting to state that my trees were all of the same age, the seeds haying been .placed in my garden •at Parawai in April 1883. As oaks take some time to develop tUeir top roots before they appear on the sur face we may say that the trees are about 14 year® old at thia date- I am, etc., ' "Albert J. Aluim, Te Aroha, 22nd April, 1898.

, (To the Editor.) Sin,—During the last few weeks the air appears to have been suddenly titled with voices proclaiming us to whether or not our thermal springs and {baths are conducted in a manner beat suited to a sanatorium, or huve be*\n handled in a rough and ready go-as-you-please fashion. Now sir, Ihave been a resident in this district and patronised the baths for the past fourteen or fifteen years, and this is the first time within my recollection the cleanliness or otherwise of the baths has been challenged. For my own part 1 am quite satisfied with tjie manner in which the present caretakers keep the baths, and I fancy I could find hundreds to back me up in ray eorbinnnts. But there is one thing bur Commissioners should put a atop to, and that is the suppression of all kinds of larrikiuism witiiin the Park. It is only a few ueeks back that one of our citiz jus, after having his dip, was standing, on the edge, of the bath—dressed—when one of the bystanders, evidently for a joke ! pushed him into the bath —boots, clothes and at. Now,, this is the kind of business that Will tend to bring our baths into disrepute, and one which the Board should put dowa with a high hand. Trusting you will see your way to insert these few liues. —I am, etc, • iv ! Octagon.