AUCKLAND'S TOURIST CENTRE

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 221, 17 September 1919, Page 9

AUCKLAND'S TOURIST CENTRE

ROTORXJA'S INCREASING POFTTIiARITT. BIG WORKS IN SIGHT. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. A passage in the Tourist Department's report, relating to Rotorua, states that in the past season the number of visitors to Rotorua showed an appreciable increase over that of the previous year> This was particularly noticeable during the closing quarter. The value of tickets used under the Department's passenger booking system amounted to £1,233 2/3, an increase of £427 1/10 on the total of the previous year.

At Rotorua many big works are in sight, it is intended this year to make a start with alterations at Okere power station, which is now working at its full speed, and must in. tile near future be replaced by a more powerful station. The work of replacing the wooden water supply pipes with cast-iron ones,, is proceeding, and an order has already been placed in Australia for a large quantity of pipes. These have been held up by dislocation of shipping, but should soon be in New Zealand.

The report adds that bath buildings at the leading health resorts in the southern hemisphere, and probably in the world, have naturally, owing to financial demands in other directions during the past few years, suffered somewhat, and a comprehensive report wae prepared by Dr. Herbert before he left for England, as to what is required to be done. These works include extensions to the present main bath buildings, and practical- reconstruction of the Blue Pavilion and Postmaster Bath buildings, and also for the improvement of the hot water supply of the Priest water. The Dominion has suffered a great loss by the departure of Dr. Herbert, who for some seventeen years occupied the position of balneologist at Rotorua with great ability. Arrangements have, however, been made to retain his services in England as consulting balneologiet. and also for him to prepare and publish a complete work on the hot-water mineral springs of New Zealand.

We arc informed that Eotorua is practieallv dead, remarked Mr. Poole, when the Tourist Department report was presented. The railway "cut" had, he said practically killed the place for the -time beins. It was not only the tourist traflic, but also the interference with hundreds of people who went toßotorua for recuperation purposes at the Sanatorium. He emphasised the necessity of a bold policy of advertising to interest the people across the Pacific, who would be glad to come to Xew Zealand.

Mr. Parr and Mr. Jennings called the Ministers attention to the urgent necessity for providing proper tourist facilities at Tongariro. Mr. Jennings protesting apaiiist the inadequacy of the hut on the mountain, when attractions and the property of the reeort warranted the erection of a good accommodation house.