THE HOT SPRINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1461, 12 November 1881, Page 4

THE HOT SPRINGS.

-c- - — [v anticipation ot tlio linpoitance these spi ings aie bound to assume foi sanitory an.l geiiei il t>u.iti\e puiposes, a useful aiul com ,-" \ ativo pice of lcj slation was ( iia' I'-il last m ssiou, entitle 1 the "Thei mal Spiiiu-, Di-tnut Act, IHS I ." Ii vittue t!i ii'it the (lo'fMiior is empoweied to I d' fIUC dlstllutj to 1)C Mll>)GCt tO its |U*OI \IM(/'!^ ; ■' !k'ill<j lot ll'tlCi 111 V I)ic!l til IC ,11 eon-ad'" 1 ! M^ niri)!>"i %of the n:.;,r\ l\a, ", >iUi'\i, oi hot 01 l.inu'i.il spi i'i»s, lakes, u\ .so 1 , v,.it"i'." 11l s'icli disiiict, no 1 uid ■ m l'j nCfjuiu'il excepting under the [)i>j\ i-iion-) ot the A( t In piiiMianco of Ihi"^ pow oit> we note tiom thu l.i^t dnzctle tint Ills Hscclli'iicy ha, been pleaded to aiipoint the following to be districts within the meaning ot this Act: Fust, the area ot hud comprising 6l(?,S9on.ctes, situated in the counties of East Taupo and Tiiuning.i, near the confluence of the Wdiotahii nnd Waikato livers, and second, SO.fIOO in tlm county of Knst Taupo, near the confluence ot the Wanakci and W.uLito livers. The land beijip thus secured, and when passed tluough the Xatnc Lands Court,!Goveinmeiib 1 5 ! authorised to tieat for the ces-ion, leape, or puicha&c of the land, and having concluded arrangements for the use and enjoyment of all raineial oi other spMugs, lakes, rivers, and w.itpis, maj r lay out and survey towns, Mibiuhan Jillotmont I',1 ', and farms, apart and dedicate lauds ns paikn, domains, sites f,»r schools and places of wor-hip, bnilrl lodges, muipuras, or ornamentcil buildiriirs, apptopri.tte any of the landioi squares, gardens, or open places, make enolosme 1 ' and, plantations, manasre and control the mineral and hot water spi ing's, eioct pump rooms, baths, and other building, and generally under Oi<ler-iu -Council make nnd enforce reLrulations for the mana'jrcmcnt of the land 'et apart. Further piovi"ions are made foi leading sections ot the land to European oc cupinjfl, for enforcing local police law and delegating powers to a local Eoaid. The object of the Act is, of co'iisp, obvious T*ie hot springs of the Noith Island (writes a contempormv), fampd throughout the world, at least, in repute, are as yet a (a xi iiKnr/tiirn to the oidinary touri-t, The distiicts in their wild and unartificial beauty have not yet become fashionable places of resort ; the few daring traveller" who now and then go thifher find their experiences are not of unalloyed pleasiue, nor the attentions of the du«ky owneisoftho soil always productive of satisfaction. In a word, these wonders of our .Southern Britain need ponularipiug, and the Thermal Springs Districts Act is the first step in that diiection. The experiment will be an interesting one, and there need be no apprehension as to its ultimate success. The Act provides that the letting or disposal of the lands mu-t always be by public auction tender, and it may be presumed that at no veiy distant pei iod some of the land now defined by the proclamation will be so offered for European ocoupiors of certain pi opoi tics held under arrangements with the Native owners made valid.