Te Aroha Hot Springs.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43216, 17 August 1907, Page 2

Te Aroha Hot Springs.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the Medical Officer’s report, as submitted to Parliament: — In spite of the drawbacks to the general patronage afforded Te Aroha and the Government baths, due in the first place to the large attendance accorded to the New Zealand International Exhibition at Christchurch, and, secondly, that this district has suffered practically two floods this season, the first of which very seriously disorganised all traffic and greatly interfered with the movements of tourists and others intending to visit Te Arena, the result of our returns, however, show but a very small total shrinkage in revenue received for the twelve months —viz., £IOO. The receipts for the year ending the 31st March, 1906, totalled £1,633 4s 3d, as against £1,533 15s 9d for year ending the 31st March, 19°7. Under the circumstances, these figures, I think, prove most emphatically that in spite of all counter-attractions Te Aroha has enjoyed a very fair share of public favour.

There is a slight decrease in revenue receipts unde r all heads except that of “ out-patients’ fees,” which shows an increase over the figures of last year. NUMBER OF BATHB TAKEN. 1906 1907 Private 21,015 18,769 Public 19,891 20,598 Free 139 74

Totals 41,045 39,441 This year’s experience shows that the public baths still retain their popularity as against private baths, but this is easily expliaiued as follows: An additional public bath in the shape of a fine, large, cold-water swimming-bath was open during the whole season. Last year this bath was completed only in time to be enjoyed by the public for a very short space of time. Then, again, thero is attached to this spa a public bath reserved entirely for the use of children, and as the summer has been a particularly long, hot and wet one, this bath has been in great demand. T 1 iese facts, j think, explain the discrepancy, which, in my opinion, would bo very much greater if only the swimming-bath were supplied with hot instead of cold water. The number of excursions of schoolchildren and others to Te Aroha has not been so great this year at last, due, I think, partly to weather-conditions, and partly to the local interest taken in the great exhibition at Christchurch. The inauguration of electric baths and massage has not met with that public support one would have expected, but this, I think, is purely due to a want of education. The public are not generally aware of the benefits afforded by this form of treatment, and I think it is only a matter of time —when they become sufficiently educated to appreciate massage and electrical treatment —that this branch of our work will be able to show very different results. Although this year’s revenue has not reached that of last year, the improvements effected by the Government in the Domain during the last twelve months have far exceeded those of the previous year, and the comments of the general public on these have been unstinted and most gratifying. The swimming-bath, which on certain days of the week was thrown open to females, received a large patronage, the total number of baths taken for the year being 2,223.

Massage Building.—This building has been supplied with an electric-light bath and a constant current battery, both of which prove useful adjuncts to the apparatus already there.

Bowling-pavilion. A new and broad verandah has been placed in front and on two sides of this building greatly increasing the shaded accommodation for visitors. The front of the open space in the centre has been closed in with a glazed partition, giving greater security and privacy to the pavilion as a whole. These improvements have greatly enhanced the general appearance of the bowling-pavilion, and added much to its utility, points whic have been highly appreciated by the public in general and bowlers in particular. Electric Light.—A system of incandescent lamps has been installed in the administrative and in all the baths, while five fine arc lights have been placed at various points of vantage in the grounds. It is needless to state how great an improvement this is upon the old system of lighting by kerosene, and how much appreciated it is by everybody. Telephone. —The Government have established a telephone bureau in Te Aroha in communicatioa with the outlying districts of Gordon, Aratiatia, Shaftesbury, Manawaru, Waihou, Mangaiti, etc., the Department has connected the Clerk’s office and the Resident Medical Officer’s private residence with this telephonic system, which must prove both an up-to-date convenience and a very great saver of valuable time. GROUNDS. Fountains. Two ornamental porcelain drinking-fountains have been erected in the grounds, one in the Octagon for the supply of the waters of No. 8 Spring, and the other in the centre of the lawns directly in front of the Cadman Bath building. The latter fountain supplies pure drinking-water laid on from the borough mains. These fountains, being picked out in the colours of the Department —viz., white and blue —are in perfect keeping with the baths and administrative offices, and assist very much to further adorn our beaufiful grounds. Tennis-court. —A neat new back fence, or barrier, has been erected at the north end of the asphalt tennis-court to stop the balls being driven across the main pathway, or in amongst visitors who may be sitting viewing the play. This fence has supplied a muchfelt want,' and its establishment has given universal satisfaction.

Seats.—Six seats have been erected at various points on the track leading to the top of the Bald Spur for the convenience of aged or weak people who are not able to go long distances without a rest. These seats have been much appreciated, and thethought - fulness of the Department in placing them there has met with frequent favourable mention in the columns of the local Press. Bush-house. —What was once a prominent and unsightly patch in the Domain grounds on the south side of the cold-water swimmingbath has been converted into a most charming little bush-house or native fernery. When inside this beautiful little retreat, the proximity of trickling water and the shade of the beautiful native ferns, shrubs and creepers—only requiring another year or two’s growth to attain perfection—makes it difficult for one to bolieve that he is not in reality in the heart of a Ipioturesque bit of New Zealand bush.

Gardener’s Cottage.—The Department has built a very pretty and comfortable cottage, on an t elevated position in the centre of the Domain grounds, for the occupation of the head gardener, who inay thus be enabled to exercise proper supervision over all parts of the Domain. The building has assisted to render a somewhat bare slope picturesque, and thus has helped to add further beauty to an already “beautiful little spot,” a phrase describing Te Aroha often heard from the lips of visitors. Meteorological Instruments. —A supply, of these instruments has been forwarded to this spa, and will be placed in position as soon as | the enclosure for them is .completed. | Enlargement of Cold-water .Reservoir.— j Hitherto, in seasons of drought, when the I borough water-supply has run low in the I reservoir, the water-service to the Govern- j ment baths has been on several occasions cut off. The .Department having enlarged its own reservoir considerably during the last ( twelve months, we now have several thous- j ands of gallons of clean cold water in reserve, : and if the town supply should in the future ' be denied us, bathers are not likely to go short, as our private supply is capable of , answering all needs for, at any rate, a time long enough to tide over any emergency. ;