HOT SPRINGS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 458, 17 March 1909, Page 8

HOT SPRINGS.

A SANATORIUM FOR WELLINGTON. (Bγ A. K. Newman.) I want to draw tho attention of the Wellington public to tho hot springs in our own provincial district. Auckland has developed many hot springs, and has all conveniences for invalids at Rotorua, To Aroha, Wairaki, and at other places. Tho hot springs at Hanmer havo been doveloped for tho South Island folk. Our hot springs lio unused, almost unknown, yet Wellington's hot springs [.are tho best in' Now Zealand. Though they aro tho most powerful healing waters in New Zealand, our hot springs lio quite inule--1 voloped. So little known aro they that I believe only a few Wellington people know of thoir existence or of thoir whoreabouts. They aro on tho northern slopos of tho volcano Tongariro—the oldest of tho threo Wellington, volcanoes— lUiapehu, Ngauruhoo, Tongariro. Theso springs are called by tho Maoris Kotetahi and Tho Maoris havo an immenso belief in their healing powors. - in the Old Days. In the oid days, if the Maoris failed to be cured at Rotorua and Tokaano hot springs, they travelled to tho hot springs at Tongariro. They could only do this in cases when the tribo that owned the sacred mountain, Tongariro, wero friendly, otherwise they would have been killed and eaten. Dr. Pomare, tho learned Health Officer, who is doing such good work among the Maoris, tells mo,that Maoris had a profund belief in the value of these springs, and used thorn with groat success for many diseases. A few pakehas, led by the ■ Maori belief, havo bathed in them, ,and are as loud in their praises as aro tho Maoris. Tho people who havo used them have chiefly been men working in the district and afflicted with rheumatism, sciatica, etc. I hear a man takes a spade, digs a hole in the pumice, lets the -water in, and soaks in it. If tho case is a | suitablo one, the patient is cured far more rapidly than at Rotorua. Easy Accessibility. ".., I have long had my oyo on theso springs and realised the value they would be to Wellington, but there was nothing to bo done .till the North Island Main Trunk railway Was completed. .Years.ago I suggested that our volcanoes should bo mado into a national park. Mr. Ballauce, the then Premier, took up the idea, and they now form a great national park. Theso hot springs are the property of the Dominion, and they can now be easily reached; from Wellington. The train runs through to Waiouru, thence there is a good ;line of coaches that ,oins some thirty miles abreast of Tongariro..', The Government are making <a cross ,'road' from the Waimarino round the foot.of Tongariro to meet this coach road, Waiouru to:Tokaano. This will shortly be finished, and then there will be a coach road to the foot-of Tongariro. The journey to this spot will bo made quite easy from Wellington. .-•... Short and Cheap Route. .The distance-Wellington to Tongariro is about;half th'o. ; distance 'from Wellington- to Rotorua; being half'.the. distance, the cost of going and. coming will be about one-half— in itself a great consideration. Being half-, way, the journey will not be so trying to invalids: 'A good many invalids can with difficulty spare time for a visit to Rotorua—and much; time is wasted going and coming. By this journey 'time will 'be saved, and the patients will havo more' time to devote to the "Pools-of/Bethesda 1 . , ," ' ■ , ■ Other Advantages. > The-air of Tongariro is singularly ; fino and bracing for invalids. People who are run down'will be braced up in body, whilst having■ their specific diseases cured. Most hot springs are low'down in hollows; these are high up, and patient's will breathe clear, in'spirting iniquntain- great gain. Tho scenery here is'remarkablv fine'a'll round. At the foot of Tongariro is the one really beautiful lake. in. this provincial district, Roto Aira. From Tongariro, near , the , springs, are magnificent views in all directions. The volcano Pihanga in front, and in tho north-east appears tho "long level'glories of the Taupo Moana. 'An easy horse track takes a moderate walker 'to the top of Pihanga, where is, 'perhaps, absolutely the finest view in the North'lsland. : , - What is Needed. ! These springs 'aro Stato property, thercforo the only peoplo' that can develop them is the Dominion Ministry. ' Directly the coach road is made it will be a work of little cost to erect a house for invalids, with proper accommodation. Only a small one would be needed at first, and could be added to as, ■the tide of invalids crows greater. lam sure it is right to develop Rotorua, Te Aroha, Hanmor, and other places, and through your columns I appeal that theso hot springs, so accessible to a very largo population in this southern half of the island, should bo opened up for.-use of sick people. Timber could easily be got from the Waimarino sawmills. At a small cost the necessary buildings could bo put up, and a most useful work begun. lam confident that these springs will'be an immense benefit to many invalids.