Tourist and Health Resorts.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4479, 26 October 1909, Page 3

Tourist and Health Resorts.

[TE AROHA. Dr the Government pamphlet to hand appears the report of the Resident Medical Officer, Te Aroha, for the year ending 31st March, 1909, as follows: Although in two cases you will notice a decrease in revenue, all the other items show a marked increase, which may be looked upon, I think, as very satisfactory, and as indicating a steady increase of business, and thereby the fact that Te Aroha is year by year coming more into public favour. The total receipts for the year ending 31st March, 1908, amounted to £1,665 3s 2d, while those for the year ending 31st March, 1909, amount to £1,751 11s 3d, an increase of £B6 8s Id.

The baths have been well patronised, especially the public baths, which show an increase of 4,477 baths over the figures of last year. The cold-water swimming - baths, also a public bath, shows a decrease compared with the figures for the previous year. This I attribute to the bath not being opened until the 22nd December, 1908, instead of the Ist November, 1908, so that practically the bath has only been open for four months instead of six months. The massage and electric baths have been well patronised during the year, but the electric-light bath has not been in use for want of electric cuirent in the day time. The subjoined tabular statement shows the revenue received under its various heads, and at the same time the previous year’s revenue is shown for the purpose of indicating increases or decreases m the different items. —Revenue — Bath fees, £1096 16s lid, increase £IOO 4s 3d ; out-patients’ fees, £339 18s 6d, decrease £l6O 14s; library fees, £9 6s 6d, decrease 4s 9d; players’ fees £129 2s 3d, increase £43 13s 6d; towel fees £l7 0s 4d, increase £1 19s lOd; miscellaneous (rents, pamphlets, etc.) £B2 2s 6d, increase £24 55—£1,751 lls 3d. Increase in 1909, £B6 8s Id. —Number of Baths taken— The following table shows the number of baths taken in 1209 as compared with 1908: Private 18,403, increase of 216 ; public 25,146, increase-of 4,477 ; free 66, increase of 66. —Cold-water Swimming Bath— There is not the slightest doubt that if the water in the swimming-bath could by any means be heated it would at once become a most popular bath, and the revenue derived therefrom very materially increased. —Works Undertaken during the Ye'ar— Tea-kiosk.—The most noteworthy improvement to the beauty and utility of the domain has been the erection of a very pretty tea • kiosk, situated on rising ground, and in a commanding position on the south side of the domain over-looking the bowling-green, and a very large portion of the other playing-greens and garden plots. Bowling-green—The bowling-green has been retimbered with heart of totara. This required attention in order to preserve the levels of the green, as the old supporting rimu timber was rotten and decayed. Macadamised Road, Cart entrance — A properly formed macadamised cartentrance to the domain grounds has been formed from the Wilson'street entrance, at the rear of No. 2 Bath, up to the bath house. This road was much re* quired for the heavy traffic from time to time necessary in the domain, and has saved considerable expense in the re-for-mation of other roads and paths much cut up by tho traffic necessary before this new road was made.

New Asphalt Tennis-courts —Two new first-class asphalt tennis courts have baen formed on the sulphur permeated grass plot just below the bowling green, and on the south side of the croquet lawn. This is a model spot for tennis courts, and is bandy to the tea kiosk and drinking springs, etc. The courts have not yet been opened for play, but I anticipate that they will be very considerably patronised when they are, as jtennis plaving is very much on the increase in Te Aroha.

Cultivation of New Ground—The rough unformed large area of ground around the tea kiosk has been graded with nice paths, and ornamented with flower beds and grass plots, whilst a pretty artificial lakelet about 33 square feet in area has been formed at the foot of the slope on the south side of the building. A large rose garden is also in the course of formation This portion of the domain has been very greatly improved, and now attracts large numbers of visitors. The rough, unformed tract of ground on the slope between No. 2 bath and the massage building has also been graded and sown with grass, whilst pretty flower and grass borders have been formed all the way up the hill. Miniature cascades have been constructed in the creek alongside, and the whole effect is charming, and compels the admiration of visitors.