THE RAGLAN THERMAL SPRINGS, WHAINGAROA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2483, 9 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RAGLAN THERMAL SPRINGS, WHAINGAROA.

Lk.wjxc tlic Waipa anil Raglan load a! its junction with the road to tin; Hoi Springs, I journeyed on passing tin: property of Mrs Johnstone on the left witl the beautiful Waitetuna River beneath over which a good bridge lias lately bcei constructed instead of the old suspciisioi one, which is to l:o removed to anotlie locality. Quick riding being out of tin question, owing to the state of the road I spent more time in admiring the beau ties of the scenery around tne, for wliicl indeed \ was not sorry. Every yard o the road seemed to open up sonic nev feature in the landscape. Tho road which is of good grade, but narrow, ha lately beeu formed, standing high abovi the river. I looked ever and anon at it shining waters rushing down to the sea In vain did I try to discover a disciple o the gentle Isaac Walton, as I wonderei what fly would be effective in allurin; the spotted beauties from their aquati home among the rocky bed of the pc-ltioic stream. But, alas, no trout wore there On oncc more passing the residence o Mrs Robertson, I soon reached the bcauti fill homo of Mr Cogswell, one of the mos charming residences in the Raglan dis trict, surrounded by pines of all sorts and here Nature has kindly lent her aid for limestone rocks are everywhere seen Beautifully laid-out grounds and fruitfu orchards arc around the house. Havin/ partaken of the kind hospitality of M and Mrs Cogswell, I hastened on, thi gathering clouds threatening rain. Aftc a mile or more the property of Mr Fitz Patrick,leased by Mr A. Cogswell,is passed The land seems of good quality, imtcl of it being of a limestone formation, i native settlement, Ohautira, was passet with its cultivation of potatoes, o which a very good crop seems to have been got. Soon the junction of the roac to the Raglan Harbour and the Ho Springs Road is reached, and soon afte we are passing through the fine estate o Mr Picken, consisting of 1000 acres ii extent. Here that gentleman reside: with three young friends, all from tin West Country of the Old Land. Three o them are Devonian:) from Plymouth Town and one from an udjaccnt county, tin sous of gentleman, some of then holding high positions in Her Majesty': service, preferring to rough it in tin New Zealand bush rather than live a lifi of ease at Homo. Contented and happy merry as sand boy-s I found them haul ing timber and splitting shingles for ; kitchcn roof. The mighty kakikatca hat fallen beneath the blows of their axes logs bad been sawn off, billets auc shingles cut from this monarch of the "primeval forest," growing whils " Farmer George was King" in England or perhaps ere Drake or Frobishcr sailer from Plymouth Harbour. Mr Picken is getting a good deal of land into cultiva' tion on the river flats. Land on which bush has been fallen grows excellent rys grass. Here cattle quickly fatten, shecj seem also to thrive wonderfully, ant good crops of hay have been saved Fruit tree 3 thrive well, and two gooc orchards are in full bearing. Some fev milles away, on the other side of th< Whaingaroa River, up the Kahur; Valley, resides Mr Vermon, who alst owns a fine property, which lie i: getting into grass, etc., and a goo( many hundred head of cattle wil soon be feeding there. Passing on, I wai sorry to leave my young friends, bin anxious to reach the healing waters. Thi rippling stream below which has cutitsel a deep channel was gently gliding on t( mother ocean. Over many a rock ant htone, here a waterfall, and there a sand] beach, just the home for trout. At las tho springs are reached, and alightin; from my horsol was hospitably received bi Mr and Mrs S. Wilson, of the firm o Wilson Brothers, lessees of the Whaiuga roa Hot Springs Domain Reserve." I was not long before I was luxuriating ii the glorious waters, weary with my ride full of rheumatic pains in hands and arm weighed down with anxious care. Al! seemed to banish as the fabric of a dream and surely another world was opening tt my view. Care flown, pains gone, anxiety fled, as I rnshed for a dip in the eooi river beneath. Quickly dressing I was soon refreshing the inner man at mj host's hospitable table. When the morrow came I surveyed the scene around gathered from Mr Wilson, who intends tc make this tho leading sanitorium of New Zealand, and devote the whole of his time in laying cut and beautifying the grounds, and erect a substantial and commodious residence for visitors, the frame work of which was up standing in a commanding position above the springs, built oJ totara, and extending a chain in length. When finished somewhere about September next, it wil 1 be able to accominodatc a good number of visitors to the springs. Then the young grass will be nearly grown, the bush around having been fallen, ornamental trees planted, walks laid out, tenuis grounds formed, and fountains of hot and cold water playing in front of the house, and vill present with the lovely native bush on the other side of the river, a charming picture indeed. Already two baths have been made, one of which is covered in, and lined with planking. The flow of water is very great from the spring which supplies the latter, nearly 300,000 gallons per day are constantly flowing, with a heat of lliOtleg. whichiß supposed to be hotteron approach of rain. These waters have long enjoyed the reputation among tho natives of possessing great hiding powers. Many are the cures recorded of th -:ii, and -iue.o Europeans came hero some wonderful evidence has been shown that they dc heal some of the ills that flesh is heir to." Only recently a miner injured at his work, appa:eutly for life, was restored tc heal',h again and now works once more in tbe bowels of the earth. No less than lti,ooo baths have been taken here during the l ist 12 months, and when I was staying here a native arrived, au old warrioi who had fought for his King against our Queen, wanted to bring one hundred of his old comrades to straighten out their limbs stiffened by exposure upon many a battlo field during tho war. Messrs Wilsons intend to erect a great number oi different baths, amongst them allot one oi thirty or forty feet long so that a svvi in can be indulged in. The river will be cleaned for a cold swimming bath, hydraulic power will be used for raising both hot and cold water to other baths, and foi tho uso of tho house, and supplyiug the fountains, etc. There are a great number of different, springs of varying character on both sides of the river. A rustic fcridgo will bo erected so that visitors can bathe on the other side too. Opposite tho springs is a conical hill, from tho summit of which a grand view of Raglan Harbc ur can bo seen ; the toj of it will be cleared, a pathway mailt to reach it, and seats placod for visitor! to rest upou. Tho scenery around i> most romantic, tho lovely hanging wooc coming down to the river on this side ol the creek. Tho pines with the tree fern. l growing around, and tho deep colour o: the foliage maku a beautiful picture. A moro lovely bush could not be desired and when naturo and art are combiuet it must be a still moro attractive spot, Situated in so central a portion, bein<j fqurtcon mile* from Ngaruawahia, about the saino from Raglan, and not inucl: further from Huutly, tho time is nol far distant when a largo concourse o1 visitors will resort hero for health ane pleasure, At any rate tho lessees art determined to work to that end, and tt make those springs second to none as ; hydropathic and thermal sanitorium. Nt doubt tho time is not far distant when ; road wide enough for wheeled trallie wil bo made, so that invalids and visitors o-u: moro easily reach tlicm, as the grade i; good on all tho line of road u> the spiing.in each direction, and as Messrs Wilson aro determined to charge a reasonable rate for visitors residing in the house, thero is no doubt that a vory largo number will arrive during the coining season. After a stay of a few days, during which I received much benefit from the baths, I wan loathe to have, but duly compelled me, and, thanking my kind friend, I

journeyed to my distant home, trusting when Kiuniner came rouucl I should once more be found iu the delightful spot, enjoying these blessed waters, and feeling their ln :i!i n>r powers once more, driving away dull care and aching pain.