NEGLECTED TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43094, 18 May 1907, Page 3

NEGLECTED TE AROHA.

[To the Editor,] Sis,—Mr McElwain, who is mentioned in last Friday’s issue of the “ Auckland Star ” as having interviewed the Hon. G. Fowlds re the condition of the Te Aroha hot springs, is a would be benefactor of the residents at and patrons of the thermal district. Te Aroha has long been neglected by the Department responsible for its interests and welfare, and whilst £30,000 is being expended at Rotorua in the erection of a new bath-house, ( the other locality is not only entirely neglected, but some of its most attractive features have been allowed almost to disappear. He was a bold man to interview the only representative of the Government he could conveniently buttonhole in .Auckland in' the interests ©f his favourite watering-place. The most surprising thing to my mind is the indifference of the Te Aroha people themselves to what must be the life and soul of the place as a resort for visitors of the invalid and tourist classes. I was equally surprised with Mr McElwain to find that the octagon spring had been interfered with by someone responsible for chung ing the plnpdbf the outflow and altering its heating capacity in such an injurious manner; but the disuse of the eye-water, in consequence of the wilful removal of the Dougla 8 pump over it, is much more to be deplored. Although "your correspondent could not find it, the water is still there, and the pump foundation still remains in its place, but it is evident that a bold attempt has been made to render it useless by the removal of the pump, and the breakage of a piece of the large earthenware pipe from which it was procurable. When I saw what had been done some time ago I mentioned the matter to Mr Kidd, M.H.R., who happened to be visiting Te Aroha at the lime (some nine months ago), and he promised to interview the doctor in charge of the place. He may have done so, and the doctor may have tried to satisfy him that it was in the interests of t he place that the change had been made, because I spoke to him on the subject, and the reason he alleged was that all sorts and conditions of people used the spring without regard to the danger of spreading ophthalmic complaints by its careless use or abuse." This is surely an insufficient excuse for ignoring one of the most useful and beneficial springs in the whole reserve. I have known many instances of its curative qualities, but will content myself with mentioning one only. A young man engaged in a warehouse in Auckland was throwing a eardboad box iuto its place on an upper shelf, when it rebounded and hit him in the eye. He was for weeks in a darkened room < nder the doctor’s careen d his optical nerves seemed so shattered that there was very little hope of preserving the sight of the affected eye. It was apparently dead and useless, and • likely to effect the sight of the other optic, when he was conducted to the springs referred to, and after a week’s use of the, same, returned cured. Is not ihisa sufficient proof of its utility, and or the importance of maintaining it undisturbed, "instead of permitting its destruction. Mr McElwain deserved the •hanks of the public for bearding the lion of the Ministry (although he hit upon the wrong man, as it happened). Will Mr Fowlds kindly represent' the matter in the proper quarter, and get ibis useful institution rostered for the benefit of suffering humanity and the welfare of the thermal district and its att tactions ‘t —Dam, etc , W. Wilkinson.