THE HOT SPRINGS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 95, 29 January 1872, Page 3

THE HOT SPRINGS OF NEW ZEALAND.

(To the Editor of the Australasian?) Sir, —Observing that excursion steamers are leaving this port for places in Now Zealand, more particularly in the Middle Island, and knowing that the hale and hearty are the usual passengers on such trips, 1 wish to draw the attention of those who arc afflicted in health to the renovating properties of the mineral springs of the Northern Island of New Zealand. Those springs range from cold to boiling heat (the natives cooking their food in the latter), and are particularly efficacious in cases of rheumatism, cutaneous eruptions, scrofula, and indiscretions arising from excess and fast living. Having derived incalculable benefit from them, I should be ungrateful were I not to make known their blessings to suffering humanity. Hitherto they have been nearly unknown,as theirpositiou in an inaccessible country precluded invalids from visiting them ; now the roads are made, and they arc rendered easy of access. Situate halfway between Auckland and Napier, arrangements could easily be made to visit them from either place ; the time occupied would be about 14 days there and back. I will merely mention two instances of their virtue that came under my notice. A man engaged in erecting the telegraph poles was bent nearly double with rheumatism ; as he reached the springs be availed himself of them, and on passing him a fortnight ago he was erect and working hard. A young man from England, with the effects of disease contracted there, joined the constabulary force ; in a short time, through marching and exposure, he became so bad that lie was literally “ weary of life ; he obtained a week’s pass, took the baths, and came back a new creature, and is now with the field force, able to do his duty with any of his comrades. To fast young men who have drunk the dregs of the cup of pleasure the springs are indeed a blessing, and I seriously beg to draw their most earnest attention to them ; better spend their holidays there and return new men, than parch up and never get

thoroughly well. I have left that part, and have no personal interest in the island, but I deemed it a duty to draw attention to their marvellous benefits. The botanist would be lost in admiration at the splendid specimens of ferns ; the finest I have seen here are literally trash to those found in the Lake Districts; not here and there one, but gorge after gorge almost impassable with "them. Should the steamboat company so arrange that passengers could avail themselves of this part of the country, they would reap a rich harvest in ensuing seasons, as invalids would flock there on the results being knoWn. Should you deem this worthy of insertion, and wish further information respecting the route and halting stations, I shall be pleased to give the fullest information in my power. F. W. B.

Melbourne, Dec. 11, 1871