MAROONED.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 103, 30 April 1920, Page 6

MAROONED.

STRANDED AT ROTORUA. TOWN FULL OF VISITORS. RATIONING FOOD. Like Molly tho Marchioness, the people who rushed oJT to Rotorua to see the Prince are now finding "that Setting away was harder." The trains that ran last night and this morning bringing back the Royal party did not carry any of the general public, as the railwaymen stipulated that none other than those that were taken down in the Royal party should travel back. Rotorua is crammed full of visitors, and when the news of the strike fell like a thunderbolt on boardinghousedom the telegraph office was besieged. Appeals for further financial assistance or explanatory messages flashed over the wires at the rate of about a thousand a day. The post office, which at anytime is a most efficient one, had been augmented from Auckland for the rush of business anticipated from the presence of Royalty, Parliamentary donatories, and lesser lights, and the big pile of yellow forms was rapidty dispatched.

HIGH CAR FARES. Ar soon as the train service snapped people anxious to get to their homes began to rush round looking for a way out. Motor car fares jumped like a malaria patient's temperature. One party of four which wanted to make a rush trip-to Auckland for business reasons was asked .Clo each for the trip, nml even more absurd figures were cjuotod in other cases. Some C|uckwitteil folk at once booked berths in the Northern steamer from Tauranga. leaving at the end of the week, but this outlet unless augmented by a special service will not meet th-j situation. There are dozens 'of cars in Rotorua, having been collected for the Royal visit, and there would be no difficult} , in organising an overland service to Tauranga—it was in the old days the popular route to the. hot lakes—and an augmented steamer time-table would soon relieve the situation. When the Royal train left Rotorua last night it left many disconcerted folk, whose perplexities as to how to get home were not soothed by the report that the small supply of stores was to be rationed. Rotorua is very much like a desert island—it has to import nearly everything it eats.

THE rOOR MAORIS. Really serious is the plight of the thousands of Maoris under canvas at Anuva Park. If they get many more wet days like last Wednesday there will be tlie brewings of a fine outbreak of influenza. The camp is well arranged and the sanitation is as good as could be, but even with white people tifere would be great danger in such a gathering housed in such a manner at this fickle time of the year, and with Maoris the risk is ten times greater. And if Rotorua gets short of provisions the problem of feeding the natives will be a serious one. Tho Xative Minister (Sir William Herrics) and Dr. Pomare being on the ground are fully aware of the of the position, and no doubt will make every effort to get the Maoris baci to their homes.