MY HOLIDAY AT TE AROHA

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2100, 3 May 1898, Page 3

MY HOLIDAY AT TE AROHA

(To the Editor.)

will not say like the great Homan . ‘ I chme, I saw, T conquered,’ but I cameK-I saw, and what I saw raor. than altered my anticipations. I will • not say 1 either, like another visitor I accidently met, a lady, who expressing, her general appreciation of this yttf e' inland .watering place, said, * I wanted to sseeTe Aroha r l had no idea what it was. like'.- I did not expect to soe it like this ;■ I thought perhaps it was a' few sheds by the springs 1’ lam not sure she.did not say by the sea. She came no further away than Auckland. Having read the; conflicting correspondence anent To Arohan progress and management, as an impartial spectator j will describe my impressions. - First, the town. Why call it 4 otd little Te Aroha ?’; .How long has it been established ? Who worp the first to .settle it ? Had they the means to do more than put up! a few sheds ?’ Remember -the- progress of tbe .horse-, shoe and : the hails. " A farthing for . the 'first - nail, a half-penny - for the second, 1 a penny for the third; twopence for the 4th. So for the increase of payment looks very crude and small hut wait until the 28th nail, ahd then you will see what you will-see. The world was' not made -in a day, nor according to science of' the present time,- until the end of six very long, Wait grumblers, until To Aroha has.doubled her present -age, aud you vitW see perhaps" the increase of the 28cll horse shoe nail. . . . My holiday has bben compassed in 3 short weeks. If the depth of my holiday pocket had been greater I would have stayed six; I think I have explored the town in its entirety. I have walked far out on the Paeroa, Morrinsville and Waiprongomai roads, by the river as far as practicable. T did regret there was no river path; I havewalked miles in the Old Country'bn the banksof Father. Thames, -where ho: is young .and. sparkling. I Have not placed tennis, so cannot rail at racquets and balls.rrWhafc a crumple in the rose loaf.—l have been to look at the now 'battery. May the highest success attend I' have twice ascended its mountain paths as far 'as my legs (not . very young ones) would carry me, and Btood fascinated and taking in to my soul’s depths-the mysteries of its woodland silence,, solitude, and shade. T have, followed the course of.the stream now only a babbling rill, but which in storm and weather becomes, I imagine, a fearning torrent.. I have followed itsl'courae to where it descends over . grey and moss-grown rocks and have drank of its cool. water. .1 have bathed in and drank of Te Aroha’s healing waters and have found healing; and in its little English church with' her pure and lovely Easter decorations and appointments have found more than pleasure. I have not found' time to grumble hitherto but as ah adieu I am going to give, vent to a grumble and a. suggestion. The. grumble first. Why in the..name of all that is decent do inhabitants and visitors scribble and hack their precious names and initials here, there,, and everywhere. In the Octagon, on seats, on trees, and any other avail able spot. " Who cares, whether,. T.-———.-Te Aroha, or B cky - —- Hamilton West, have lived .and moved here, more than the other 100 and one who do not scribble, Goths, vandals, barbarians, are; names too

mild to apply. I am told.that a marble foundation is -"to' be placed for the Octagon pump, and, how long will its marble surface remain unscathed ? In less than no time the hoodlums and hoodlesses will be soratchiug their autographs thereon. If I were a J JP. the first caught would get a month hard. _ - , Suggestion From my own experience and observation visitors fiud difficulty in locatiug the different baths, and not only that, are Ignorant of the par.icular virtue of each. : Oo application for ruy first hath ticket I was asked which one I wanted, public or private. I replied by saying. I wanted the best for rheumatisfir but would prefer private.. I received my ticket and directions where to go. Being an entire stranger and niv directions not very clear, I wandered a and at last was ciceroned by a benevolent loiterer who know the topography of the place. On returniug from the bath I reached the Octagon, where I encountered, an elderly lady and a gentlemen. The latter inquired of another benevolent

loiterer for' the eye-water spring, saying he had walked, in. the. hot sun •from one place to a nother until he was quit© tired, and still liad not found it These instances are sufficient to show some kind of directory is necessary. My suggestion is, a directory should be compiled, in pamphlet form, and placed on the reading-room tables, in every boarding-house, and hotel, also in the ticket office for distribution, containing a diagram of Domain, with new private baths for centre, and the position of every bath - house 1 and spring marked and numbered. Then should folio w an authenticated medical review of the properties of each bath and spring, with numbers, and to which one patients suffer; ing from rheumatism or .otherwme,, should resort. At present they grope blindly. In conclusion to. Te Arohans and visitors I say, don’t abuse, but thankfully use the gifts the. gods bestow,, and assist the.infant to.wn,pnward c and upward. A'dance Te Aroha.. ' A .Visitor. By the way. who suggests Te Aroha might have been a 4 city ’ by this time ? Does he know what constitutes a city ?