WHAINGAROA HOT SPRINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2463, 24 April 1888, Page 3

WHAINGAROA HOT SPRINGS.

RAGLAN. ♦ The WhaingfU'oa Hot Springs have a justly wide celebrity among the Maoris, who have for generations tested their healing and curing properties. Some marvellous cures of rheumatism and healings of skin diseases are recorded by them as having resulted from their use. In one instance, where your correspondent was an eye witness, a Maori, who had been brought to the springs unable to use his legs, and suffering excrutiating pains from rheumatism, was carried to and put into one of the baths for a few tinv 'after which he was able to walk to them himself, and was rapidly recovering the full use of his limbs, while the pains had left him, and lie anticipated returning to his kianga in a few days completely cured. The lessees of the springs —Messrs Wilson—have during the last year got down sixteen acres of the bush, which they burned in March, but unfortunately did not have a good burn, as the season has been rather wet. However, they have sowed the clearing with grass seed, and will have good paddock accommodation next spring. They have also got all the timber cut for an hotel of 13 rooms, and intend building at once. Two baths have also been excavated, and lined with timber, and a covering put over one, similar to the erections at Te Arolia. The number as required can be increased, the springs being large and numerous, varying in temperature from !)sdeg. to ICOdeK. Fahrenheit. To temper the heat of the latter, which is what "no fellah " can stand long, the lessees intend erecting a small pelton wheel to work a force pump foi the supply of cold water to the baths and the hotel. The springs have become resorts for the inhabitants of Huntly and Ngaruawahia, and only require the roads to be widened, in order that buirgies can be driven along them, when they will no doubt be visited by invalids and sightseers from all parts, and as there are large tracts of Crown lands unoccupied, through which the present tracks pass, the Government cannot do a wiser thing than employ the special settlers of Te Akatea or Firewood Creek in widening these roads. In fact they are entitled from the agreement entered into by the late Government to be employed in doing so, and the sooner the matter is taken in hand by the Government the better for these settlers and the colony. Unless it is done soon some of the settlers, who are an energetic lot, and only want some help to tide over the uphill time which all experience who undertake to make a home in the hush, must be forced into the ranks of the unemployed or leave the colony, either of which it is devoutly to be wished may not take place. The only hope for the colony so far as the majority at present see is to increase the working population more particularly the cultivators of the soil, and though the Village Settlement Scheme is not all that could be desired, yet the present Government are not doing what they should, in persistently ignoring the agreements entered into with these settlers by their predecessors in office. They asked the House to vote a sum to introduce settlers, and will not spend a cent, in trying to keep settlers who are already located. There have bean and are too many fads, in fact, the colony has been ruined by faddists, but it is to be hoped that justice may be done though it is tardy. —(Communicated.)