TE AROHA AND WAIORONGOMAI. (BY OUR OWN REPORTER.) No. II.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2169, 3 June 1886, Page 2

TE AROHA AND WAIORONGOMAI. (BY OUR OWN REPORTER.) No. 11.

The Domain and Springs. The great centre of attraction at Te Arohft is unquestionably the natural baths. They will always prove a source of wealth to the place ;in fact, they are the mainspring (no pun intended) of its prosperity .uid future progress. The quartz-mining industry is so mucli accompanied by risk and unremimerative in proportion to the immense expenditure of capital it entail*, that only too often failure and ruin follow in its train. The field may become exhausted or languish with fluctuations that operate seriously on the business portion of the community. On the other hand the springs and, medicinal waters area parenniil mine of wealth to them, and it is upon that sure foundation th it Te Aroha will build itself. The more their fame becomes widespread, the greater will be the material growth of the town. Although there are not the magnih'cient .sights and wonders at Rotonui, Rotomahana, or Taupo, vet we invaiiably hear tourist"., p irticularly invalids, declare an emphatic preference for Te Aroh<i on account of its moderate charges, excellent nccomod.ttion, pleasant situation, and the eisy access to the biths. The Domain I> >.ird fully ali\e to this fact, :>re vorv judiciously expanding: their rcieniw in transforming tlie domain from its primeval state into a pleavmt resort and place of recreation for imalul \isitors. There are at present only twenty-fhe acres of land at the ba«e of the Te Aroha miiuntain which comprises the whole extent of the domain. It is, however, proposed to take in that portion of the mountain vising upwards immediately above the grounds, in order that the beautiful native bush with which it is covered may be preserved to the domain as an attractive background. That would add several hundred acres to the property. I was eh en to understand that the Hon. J. B.illancc had promised to support the transfer of the land to the b iard. Although they have been in existonce only about two years, the board have spent a considerable amount of money on improvements and the erection of baths. Lmd ha-> been cleared, sub-soiled, and laid down in grass. Tiers and «hrubb have been planted, and an ormanental picket fenoe h.is been erected along the street boundary. There is a line lawn-tennis court laid out, whith will a-siiredly add to the attractions. Paths have boen formed, and extend their tortuous lengths over the hillsides through romantic bits of vegetation. A reservoir fed by a water-race has been made at a good elevation, and supplies c«ld water for the shower-baths in the several bath-houses, which are all connected by conduit pipes. The bon-d now contemplate erecting » a ten-horse dynamo, which can be worked by the water-p<nver which they have at command, with which they will illuminate the ground and baths by uight with electric light. In the event of this plan being carried out, the hotels [near by will also, it is believed, introduce the light into their premises.

The Baths. The whole of the public springs of Te Aroha are situated within the Domain. Up to the present time six bath-houses have been erected in different parts of the Domain. Many other springs have been found, whera additional bathing places will in time be formed. At the entrance to the ground stands the caretaker's office, where tickets and towels for the baths are procured. No. 1 Bath, by a path to the left, stands a little way up the hill. It is set aside exclusively for ladies, is a clear bubbling pool about Bft square by 4ft deep, and has a temperature of 104". A little higher up ii the No. (J bath, a spacious pool, just large enough for a couple of strokes. The teiniwrature is about 108' ; the soft influence of the water is very delightful, and after the cooling finish of the cold shower the body feels the effects of the ablutions for hours after. Close to these two baths, a pavilion has just been erected over a spring which supplies a drinking fount, where dyspeptics and others can taste the mineral waters, hot drinks, but different somewhat from tlte colonial nobblers. To the right of the caretaker's office, the path leads to the other baths, the first of which is No. 3, a large buildin? divided by * passage, on each side of which are separate compartment?, each wuh plunge and shower baths. The temperature of No. 3 varies from 100' to 106. A few yards further up is No. 2 where the temperature is 112% the highest of alt. Two pools have been made in this house, both of which can be used when there are an unusual number of visitor!. It is found rery efficacious in cases of acute rheumatism and paralysis. Alongside of No, 2 it. a large covered tank for storing hot water from the spring and from which the baths of that and No. 3 are supplied. Just above is a spring coveied in like a well, which is set aside for drinking purposes. Above thib again is No. 4, a square pool of tepid water, its temperature being only between 80' and 90\ No. 3is situated cl &c to these, and is also a pool with a temperature of 100", where a delightful bath, followed, as in all the others, hy a cool and invigorating shower, may be had. All the baths are opened for use from six in the morning to ten at night, thus enabling anyone who .so desires to take a dip two or three times in a day. The quantity of soda and potash with which the baths are all charged impart to the skin a soft, velvety touch. A course of bathing would, and doubtless does improve the complexion, besides removing all impurities from the body. The conclusion that forces itself upon the mind of an observer is that Te Aroha, in possession of such a valuable inheritance as these springs are, is a very rising place and will become in point of importance to New Zealand and Australia what Baden-Baden, Ems, and Vichy, are to Germany and the Continent of Europe. In concluding this notice I must express my thanks to Mr Wilson, the Chairman of the Domain Board, and to Mr Crump, its painstaking engineer, for the courtesy I received at their hands and the informotion I obtained in showing me over the grounds and build* ings.