THE ROTORUA TOWNSHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1344, 10 February 1881, Page 3

THE ROTORUA TOWNSHIP.

Tub Australasian in a recent article highly approves of the proposal of thb Government to survey a township at Rotorua, in the Hot Lakeß country, and considers that if the proper facilities are afforded, a great sanatorium would grow up in a place so admirably adapted by nature for the purpose, A tract of country so peculiarly endowed by nature with strange, picturesque aspects and extraordinary conditions can hardly, says that journal, fail to attain a social future as inique as its natural formation. With it « hot springs of many kinds, its sulphur baths, which hate been so long resorted to by Maoris for curative purposes, and its interesting natural features of so many diverse attractions^the region appears to be predestined (So be the greatsauatoriamof Australasia. What is required is, first that the whole region, possessing these remarkable characteris*ics should be reserved by the state for public uses, and should not, by means of any management with the Natives, or in any other way, be allowed to pass into the hauds of private persons. The Government of the United States, finding itself in the possession of a tract of country on the Yellowstone River, exhibiting equally striking featnres, wisely resolved to set it aside for the recreation and benefit of the people and posterity for all time as a great National Park. Next it will be necessary for the New Zealand Government to encourage private enterprise to develope the | capabilities of this wonderful region .by establishing townships as required, forming roads, and aiding the object in any practical way. We are glad to note that : the Government is negotiating to acquire from the Native race the ownership of some of this country still claimed by the Maoris, and it ia to be hoped that the whole territory , of this ,"New v - Zealand Wonderland " as Mr Senior called it in his reoent book " Trout and Travel," will be secured in the same manner. There ia in the Rotorua district capacity for the most diversified, wonderful, picturesqe, and, perhaps, »«alutory sanatorium in ' the worldj 'and all that is necessary is to aid*. its 4eYclopai&9&t ia its ewttw stages*