THE AROHA HOT SPRINGS. UNKNOWN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2014, 4 June 1885, Page 2

THE AROHA HOT SPRINGS. UNKNOWN.

Fkw placet of public resoit in New Zea laud— in the Au-tialim colonies I might say — have spuing into notice and nnpoitniico, and hive jnovcd themselves m> deservedly atti active and inviting in the ,s line bi lef space of timo .11 the sanatoi unn which within the past twelve months has spuing into existence at To Aroha. Two veiis ago and the Atoha spring wore known to very few outside the district 111 which they arc located. They were then looked upon merely as hot water baths by the local public, thcii valuable cuiativo properties woie little known, while Rotorua, and Wmweia attiacted ciowds of people fioin all paits of the wot Id. Te Aroha was unknown to the novelty seeking public though it affoided, nearly equal attraction to tlio.so of the better known and more fortunate places just named. But ment ahv ays comes to the fiont, and so as the attractions of the Aroha came into notice the good qualities of the springs soon became recognised. Last summer may be termed the opening season of the Aroha sanatorium, and if the patronage of the past six months may be taken ab a criterion of future success, a veiy short timo will suffice to give Te Aroha a widespread reputation. Though at present there is a want of picturesqueness in the vicinity, particularly during wet or biee/.y weather, when the surroundings are of a character decidedly bleak— and what place is not bleak in bad weather ?— tune and the expenditure of a few hundreds of pounds will convert the Hot Springs Reserve into ono of the most fascinating retreats which the prov ince will afford. The money which the Doimm lioaid gets from the Government has b*en judiciously spent in the construction of bath«, ke, and as the amount has not luen very large, the work of ornamentation, such as laying off tho grounds, planting and path-forming, has been somewhat limited. Sir Larnach, during his recent visit to tho dwtiict, was waited on by a deputation from the domain boaid, which laid befoie him the urgency of Government a»aistanc * in effecting improvement*. They pointed out to him the increase of passengei ti attic winch would cn.siie to the lailvvav when opened, and tho consequent de-ii.ibihty of having ample bath accommodation foi all the v lsitoi ■> who might dining the forthcoming season favour the baths with their pationago. MrLrrnach wib fully inipies-ed with the value of the baths, which h<> referred to as of colonial significance, and pinniped to 1 econiini'iul Government to <*ive the domain boaid £1000 to be expended in the lmpiovi'inent of the place. The income from tho bjfclis l.i»t season was very considerable, the 1 etui 11s ot one week amounting to as much as £13. Baths can now be had in all degrees of w .ninth, from the tepid to the veiy hot, withsundiy intermediate stages. There are tho private baths and the public baths, all admirably constructed and prov ided w ith cold shower*. Tho hot water fountain, tho medicinal properties of which aie said to bo infallible in removing dyspepsia, indigestion, and suchlike complaints, is ono of the staking features of the place. Tho watei of this miraculous spiing is imbibed in laige qnmtities of visitors, and it is leally a voiy palatable, and most exhilarating beverage. Excited by curio«ity, I was induced to peruse the "'remarks"' coluiin of the visitors book, aud, instead of mauufacf <u - ing testimonies of my own, I do not think I can do better than retail a few of the morestaithng which 1 found theiem, t<> the accuracy of which, however, I am 1111foitunately not 111 a position to vouch. Seine of the lemaiks aie of an amusing aud original character, home are veiy far fetched, whilst others aie a standing testimony to the stupidity of the highly intelligent gentlemen who inscribed them. A Mr Hunter Cole gives the world to understand that the "baths aie good for cm ing lo\e in thud degiee." Not being an expeit in the blissful ait myself, 1 am unable to understand what degree of madness Mr Cole has ariived at. No doubt ho has reached tho final stage of his malady by this time. And then an ever vigilant detective, who is running to eaith an unfortunate swindler, speaks of the object of his pursuit in this wise. " M in naming himself Amy Horbeit, supposed to coino from Chatham Islands, Js a swindler. I was here toanest.hini. His name is Oswald, oi Her?og, f 10m Auckland, alias Gablinsk, Osbninc and othcis. ' Ceitaiuly a striking testimony of the efficacy of the hot spiings! A Thames lawyer intimates that he " found baths rather «evere foi mairied men."' Speaking feelingly I never knew that anything could be too hot for a lavvjer, whether tuariied or single. How cv ci, 1 hope this forensic 11101 tal will be able to appreciate the agony of his unfottunatc clients when he .succeeds in getting them into hot water. Mi' Alfied Kidd, of Auckland, says lie " feels confident that had we been ill bath No. 3 would have effected perfect cure." It seems a matter of iegret to tins gentleman that he is not " down" with something or other, for the mere s.ike of experiment. " Hadn't a bath foi twelve mouths. Took off dut splendidly," is the inciiption of what 1 would call a very undesirable pat ion. Fuithcr on wo ai o Assured by some unhappy patient, that he was " suffering with indigestion imd toipid liver, and found drinking spiing water very beneficial." Another unfoitunate adds, " After severe attack of sciatica felt gieatly relieved." As to the attendant, we are told that he is " tha very quintessence of civility and urbanity." A most extraordinary testimony is conveyed in the words, " No. 2 bath is a certain cure for hidehnmd invalids." Another fellow says it " improved his eyesight," and another follows w ith the significant couplet :—: — " I went in broken and shattered, I came out mended and flattered." A lieutenant of the Salvation Army say.s "the little soldieis were very much impiovcd by the bath»\" Ho docs not state whether the improvement was spiritual, intulloctu il, inor.il, or physical ; perhaps he meant all, foi tho recent rccoids of our ciinunal law courts justify us iv thinking tli it there are many "little soldiers" to whom a, thoiough cleansing would not by any means come amiss. Tho patiiotism of the Hibernian is ever uppermost in his mind, as may be assumed fioin the following :— " Ai lived heio from Auckland on the 17th of Maich, the ever memorable minivers.ny of the iiation s.unt of my deal old fathei land, and after plunging iv No 1 for ]") days, I lctuin to-day highly pleased with my visit to the vtoh.i and much benefited by the baths." I'iobably the most .significant testimony is that of Mr Thos, Eustace Coiklnll, who says:— "l have been steamed at Matlock, stewed at Uotorua, boiled at Wairakei, but enjoyed none brttet than simmering 111 No 2." Another individual deeply versed in ancient cuiiosities and wonders testifies that tho Aroha baths are "the next gicatwondii to the pireymids of Egipt (sic)." Another attnbntos tho failure of the drinking springs to tho engineciing of tho domain board. I was rather struck with tho following in^cnption " Excellent cure for bashfulness. and bias phemy." I never know that the gentleman who wrote this, who, I believe, is a resident of Hamilton, ever suffered fioin either. Mr Joshua Hartley, whoever that sublime genius may be, in a fit of poetical fien/y launches himself into the world of veiso to the following effect : — " I cuue up hero in dicad and fear That I should meet my Maker, 1 lint tlnough the healing powers of No. 2 1 have deceived tho undertaker." Mr Voice Hawkins says : "A warm lecoption fmiii (!od knows wheie." Auothei testimony of satisfaction is conveyed in tho wouls. "Ixo. 2 is an incentive to blasphemy." Some funny joker announces that tho baths "cuicd a compound fracture of a wooden leg" T can only say if it cleansed the wuter fiom his atrocious funny isms both lie and the baths would be much benefited In the lesiilt. The.se aie only a few of the thousand and one testimonies winch the visitois bonk contains.

Wealth lias its advantages ; its happy, or, rather, foitunato possessors, may flo whenever they will. But wealth laiely gives much pleasure to any one but its owner, Beauty ranks higher. A lovely woman is njoy to all beholdets. She attracts wealth, rank and w isdom, A city blest with beautiful women must piosper. When they arc as vhtiious as, they are fair, they sin ink from notoiiety ; hence it would be vulgai to follow them into their scciusion. But handsome men are made of sterner stuff ; they court the broad sunlight of geneial comparison ; they serve highly important cuds. Men and women alike admit the sway of handsome men. Every favour they ask is granted without a murmur. Vulgai ity shrinks abashed fiom the frown of a man who beam a distinguished mien. Mr H. Cowpcrwill -sell by auction at his mart Cambridge, on Tuesday, the 9ih mst., a lot of general merchandise. Ho has alio for sale flour, v>{ieat, cb^cse, carrots, chaff,