WAKAREWAREWA, ROTORUA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2408, 15 December 1887, Page 2

WAKAREWAREWA, ROTORUA.

A Modern Miracle.—We had a wonderful phenomenon here on Sunday last. During the prevalence of heavy rain and wind, Te Wairoa, or Long Waters, which used, until the eruption last year, to be classed as an extinct geyser, started to play most furiously, in some instances casting up boiling water liiO to 200 feet high. This was continued at intervals nearly all day, which, in spite of tfie storm and rain, attracted nearly everyone to see; but the strangest part was in casting up large quantities of small eyeless fish, cooked to a turn. These came most opportunely, for the natives are in sore need of food. Those fish were hastily gathered from the boiling water, .and a regular feast was indulged in until one, who is looked on as a local prophet, and who has a long arm and large hand, by which aid he had secured a really good tuck out, said be thought they had done quite wrong to eat the fish at all, they ought to be sacred or tapu. This was demurred to by those who came late, or unable to reach so far, but the local prophet insisted that tfley should be tapu, aqcf were tapu forthwith, being hacked up by others, who, like himself, were early at the feast. The baskets of fish were put in the sacred place of which the prophet had custody. The weaker and most recent at the feast were about to give way to the stronger party, when a party of pig-honters joined in the argument, and by quoting the eigth chapter of Mark showed how people on a long previous occasion, had been provided fur in a most miraculous manner. One remarked it was surely a provision of Providence, as they had been out on the ranges for two days hqntiqg pigs, and had been unsuccessful. The feast was resumed, and when the prophet saw the food disappear he stroked his full stomach and remarked .-—“ There will bo none left; not any to put in the sacred place, of which I have custody.” The Strings. —We received a visit from an eminent Ijoqdoq doctqr, wflo is strongly impressed wjth the curative properties of the different springs in the surrounding district, more especially for rheumatism or impurity of blood, which could be cleansed in one week quite as much from atmospber|c influence as the springs. He is '{ul(y impressed with the liberal idea qf cheap travelling in the present scale of charges by coach, hotels and guides; more especially the latter needs serious reform, in fact it has been killing the goose that lays the golden egg, and the sooner the business people take steps to remedy these abuses the sooner will prosperity return to this at present neglected district.

Buggy Accident. — I Regret to chronicle an accident that befel a gentleman who was visiting this neighbourhood, who was thrown from Ips buggy and had his arm broken, through the bad state of the roads. It is to be hoped the newly-elepted County Council will see to the most urgent repairs.—(Correspondent).'