THE WHANGAROA HOT SPRINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2289, 12 March 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WHANGAROA HOT SPRINGS.

IFROMOUB OWN COKKKSI*ON»KNT.]

(Continued.)

These springs are most conveniently situated, being eighteen miles from Huntly, fourteen miles from Raglan, eight of which are by water, twelve miles from Ngamawahia, whence the road via Firewood Creek is now being surveyed and partly constructed, and fifteen miles from the WaipaRaglan road. The first tiling that moots the eye is the house occupied by Mr and Mrs iirut and family, Mr Grut having the superintendence of the road works in the district. Below, at the edge of the Whaingaroa river, are tho baths used, and two whaves close to the road. In the large one, built for tho king, and called the Royal Palace, wo had taken up our abode. It is

very picturesquely situated in a. pretty mixed bush. There are two baths used rme built of pungas, which is about 110° running past which, into the river, is ; little creek of splendid water, cool anc clear. The other one was constructed ty Mr Grut, and is made of planking nine o ten feet long, four feet broad, and aboiv two and a-half feet deep. Its teniperatui'' at present is 108°, but it can be increased ti IIS 0 by allowing the water to flow from th hot spring adjoining. Within a yard o this latter bath is a spring of the tempera ture of 130°, throwing up a large volume o water, as near as I could calculate, abou 1000 gallons per hour, or at least 20,001 every twenty-four hours, as clear as crystal The hot stream runs into the river a fev feet below. On the opposite side of th< river are numerous other lint springs formerly used for baths. The river itsel contains numerous springs so hot that tin foot can hardly be placed over them. Ii fact it is a veritable Jordan in itself, and after a shower of rain the course of the ho water in the cool stream can fairly be seen On a cold morning dense volumes of stean arise, and on the morning of our first visi Mr E. B. Hill, of Auckland, a son of oui old friend Mr T. B. Hill, took a photo graphic view of the springs. The healing waters have not long been in use, it boitif only a few years since we heard of them the natives themselves not seeming to bav< much knowledge of them until recent years But now they are much appreciated by the native race. Nearly 500 persons, Europeai and native, have visited them this summer. The Maoris are said (I do not know witl what degree of truth) to stop in them witl the head supported during the cold white nights. I should have doubted the above but reading recently in a Home paper th.r people running away from an infectec cholera district in South Russia wen found during a cold night reclining in a ho stream, I think it quite likely. Duriii' the two visits I paid here at least sixty oi seventy Europeans visited the springs On my last visit Mr and Mrs Mitchell, o Waimea, Raglan, went by land to the springs, carrying baggage on their horses from the landing stage, it being tin easiest way to send the traps up in a boat, and then convey them on horseback to tin springs. On my first visit, being naturally of a sanguine temperament, I thought most highly of these thermal springs, bul rather felt inclined to keep back mj opinion for the present, but upon Mi Mitchell and Mr Cogswell expressing their opinion of the great value of these springs, and indeed that of all disinterested visitors who also had received great benefit from them, I could not help expressing ; desire that something could ho done t< further develop their virtues, and provide accommodation for visitors. What should be done I leave the Domain Board t< decide, but they cannot do butter than take a trip to Te Amba to see what has boon done there. To both Mr and Mrs Grul the best thanks of all visitors are duo fm many acts of kindness shown, both Ijeinjj anxious to do all they can for the visitors. The ladies especially feel Mrs Grut'.* kindness in many ways. After re.itinp and bathing for a day, on the afternoon ol the second day Mr Grut acted a;* guide that I might have a view of the country from the top of a high hill behind thi springs, called Pungawhakatiki, on which is a trig station, No. 83. Our way led ir the direction of Ngaruawahia for sotrn distance, after which we turned aside, travelling all the time through dense bush, passing immense trees of totara and othei valuable timber. The laud, though broken, is of excellent character, as indeed it is al round the sprint's. White clover grow: luxuriantly on the road side, with high thistles, docks, with other weed of great size only to bo seen thriving in good ground, After climbing up many a steep hill and through deep valleys, we at last reached the trig, station. If our labour to arrive at this spot had been somewhat difficult, as at least mine had, the reward was great indeed, for here wo had a grand and glorious view of the country, our only regret beim> that we must soon depart, the shades of evening coming on. What a sudden translation out of clear bush with no view befort you, to an elevated point which the whole country seemed to lie below, stretching out in every direction. Not a cloud in the sky and a geutle breeze blowing ! Alter resting, we surveyed the scene around us, Karioi stood out on the other side ol Raglan, bold and clear, with the homes oi the settlers at its foot, Raglan and it> harbour, Waitetuna with the homes of the homestead settlers on the hillside; Okete with the residences of Messrs Wall is, Wilson, etc., and its beautiful falls like a silver thread. Inland Pirongia was clearlj seen with the stretch of country at its base, Eastward, Huntly, Taupiri, Ngaruawahia, Hamilton, mid other parts of Waikati could be discerned. Seaward, fifty miles away, the Pacific Ocean was lit up with tht declining sun, and as we looked around us, for we felt we could have remained for hours, we hoped the day was not far distant when the grand land below us would be occupied by an industrious and happy people. There appears to be a large extent of country available for settlement. Evening coming on we were fain to depart, and as we took one farewell look around from Pukepotu on the north to Karioi and Pirongia southward, the bright orb of day sunk behind Karioi, and every inountaii: and hill was tinted with a golden glow. The saphire sea running at our feet completed the picture, and as we once more entered the deep bush, we felt we had left a scene, in which every prospent pleases and only man is vile. Reaching the springs at eventide, we soon bad a dip anc then refreshed ourselves. Next day Mi Grut, having to inspect same work on the road to Waitetuna we availed oursolves ol the opportunity of going along with him, and also visiting the home of Mr Cogs well, thirteen miles away. Mrs Grid and Mrs S. Wilson, a daughter of Mi Cogswell, also went with us, soon after breakfast. Passing Mr Jack son's, Ave soon reached the Tiorau Junction, a native settlement when the road to Waitetuna branches otf, and from thence to Parawai, the Govern ment have called for, and accepted tender; for various works. These consist of twi bridges crossing Ohautira and Rautawhair creeks, respectively, with six miles of roac formation, three miles of which have beer let. The amount of the expenditure ii nearly £250. The natives being the lowes tenderers obtained all the work viz. Huirama Riutoto, Ohautiri bridge, £50, alsi two sections of road ; Pepeno Eketono Rautawhairi bridge, £22 ; Clement Newton, road section, £47 10s, and other works including culverts etc. After leaving tin junction of roads we passed through a lime stone country of good land, along the wa; a native settlement had existed in tho past On reaching Ohautira, (in' Todd's creekvvhere a wooden building erected by the unfortunate gentlemen as a Hax mill, wa still standing), wo inspected the nativi church in which on the previous Sunday tin Rev. Mr Joshua Moanaroa, native minister held service to a large congregation. Aftci ascending a steep hill we noared the water.' of the harbour, Mr Grut here left us and wt reached Mr Cogswell's house about noon. After refreshing ourselves with the gone things spread before us, and partaking ni mulberries, peaches, nectarines, &c, Mi Cogswell kindly showed mo round ins place, and as this was my 'first visit I need not say I was much interested in what I saw. Mr Cogswell is one of the oldest Raglan settlers, comincr here fromTaranaki in 1854, after which he went home returning to Raglan 18 years ago. Being a manager of a large woollen mills, and a practical engineer in the old qountry, and having very great previous, colonial experience, ho has been able to give a praotical example of what may bo done. His farm consists of 2(io acres of good land, on a limestone foundation. With a limited capital but great perseverance, he has built a (lax mill and house, planted an orchard, constructed a dam, and dug a boat canal from the harbour to his place. After leaving tho house we passed through a shrubbery and garden into the orchard below, consisting of four acres of splendid limestono land. Tiecs of all kinds, apples of various sorts, peaches, nectarines, mulberries, plums, pe.ars, anij almost every other kind oi' irtiib growing iu

great abundance, tho apple trees being braced up to prevent the branches breaking. From thence vvc wont to inspect the Haxmill, the machinery for which Mi' Cogswell brought with him from England. The mill race from the dam is cut out of the solid rock. The darn, which five years ago was carried away by a heavy fresh, has been built up again at great trouble and expense, and is provided with several largo flood gates, tho work executed being most difficult, owing to the gravel formation of the dam bottom. Upon our return, and after again refreshing the inner man with the good things so hospitably spread before us, if indeed we required it, after feasting upon the fruit in the grand orchard below, Mr Cogswell gave us all the information ho could about the surrounding country. Evidently in the past this has been a grand wheat-growing district, the natives _ not only growing it, but also grinding it in a flour-mill erected near here by them, sending the flour and grain to the Auckland market. Mr Cogswell, upon his orchard piece, has grown wheat producing 50 bushels to the acre, and on his other land at the rate of 35 bushels. This should show the capability of the soil. If grown in the past, why not now ? The sparrow and other small birds alone prevent it being done. Whilst in England, Mr Cogswell saw biii'bud ov bearded wheat growing, and it is his intention to procure some and plant it, believing the birds will not touch it. After taking leave of our kind host and his estimable wife, I could not help making the observation, " Why not a hundred places like yours in the district." Once more in the saddle and away to our sanatorium, reaching the springs just after dark, greatly pleased with our day's trip. Each day of our stay had some interest in the arrival of visitors, or in the departure of others. One day a large picnic party came from Waitetuna and Raglan. Another evening a large number of Huntly I miners arrived, keeping things lively by singing, &c, till the small hours, and up again at break of day to hunt the wild pig in the bush. One fine evening as Mr Mitchell and I had just got into our bath, a majestic Maori chief stepped into the water. I seemed a dwarf beside this hero of a hundred fights, for he was one of the principal supporters of the King in former days. Next morning, whilst bathing, our friend repeated his visit. When young what a splendid fellow he must have been! On visiting Chatswortb, in Derbyshire, the farfamed seat of the Duke of Devonshire, years ago, and whilst going through that splendid palace, I saw upon one of the doors the painting of a violin so real that one couldn't help putting his hand upon it. Ho upon the surface of our bath for a moment appeared to be floating a huge shell, which, upon closer inspection, was found to be only an engraving of one upon the nether limb of this giant before us, so real was the tatoo. Our time of departure now drew near, and one and all sxpressed their appreciation of the healing qualities of these thermal waters. We had all received great benefit from them. My boy kept saying that his limbs and joints were free again; indeed, in his case, the cure seemed effectual ; and as we bid farewell to Mr and Mrs (xi' Lit, and once more returned to our home, we could not help feeling that seeing Nature had done so much for us, it was time that those in authority did their part. Those springs have a grand future before them. There can be no doubt that they are centrally situated, easy of access, of great medicinal value, and of immense volume. The day is not far distant when a large number of visitors will avail themselves of their healing qualities, and find _ the record of the sojourners there in the list of visitors to the " Wbaingaroa, Hot Springs" in your valuable columns. Taking a bottle ot the hottest spring water (130°) clear as crystal, from the rock, home with me, I found after several days upon opening it that it was one of the finest, purest, and sweetest qualities of table water I had ever taken. Upon my return from my first visit I availed myself of visiting several fishing villages in the harbour, a native bringing me to Raglan in his canoe. Upon my return from my last visit, to show how easy it is of access to Raglan, my two sons came up from Raglan in a boat with the tide and then on to the springs, had a dip, and we returned in time to go back with the same tide, reaching Raglan about four in the afternoon. In former years, before the roads were cut, it took a day or two to go tho same distance. It is to be hoped the Covornment having done so much tor us, in opening up roads to Huntly and as far along the Waitetuna road as Parawai, will see fit to continue the same road two or three miles further, into the Waipa road, from Raglan to Hamilton. I hope upon my next visit to go to Huntly and Eireword Creek, and visit other parts of this district.