HAPPY ROTORUA. BATHS AND FISH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 29, 4 February 1908, Page 3

HAPPY ROTORUA. BATHS AND FISH.

MR DONNE'S REPLY TO STATEMENTS. The keepois of hotels and boardinghouses, tho owners of motor-cars, coaches, and other vehicles used for the transport of tourists in tho Rotoiua district aro rejoicing, for much money has been flowing into wonderland. Mr. T. E. Donne, General Manager of 'the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, vho has just returned from a. trip to the North, states diat the Government's township has never seen better days than those of this summer. The pebple, as a whole, he states, are well satisfied with the vesting of all the public utilities in tho Government. As a matter of fact, the only additional onos that came under the management of the State were the formation and maintenance of roads, the library, and the fire- brigade. The others wore already in Government hands. Referring to Mr. T. M. Wilford's statement that extravagance seemed to have entered into the erection of the new baths, Mr. Bonne submits that the Government has not gone in for extreme luxury, but decided upon something of "solid quality, with no undue display." The resources of the old baths have been strained to their utmost during this season, and they were unable to meet- tho requirements of special cases. The new baths will be mostly for medical cases ; tbe capacity of the completed part is a thousand treatments a day. "The nrescnt bath bailding," adds Mr. Donne, "is so designed as to form part of a l?rger scheme, and it can be added to from time to time as demand warrants. The central block contains all the most expensive and elaborate work, while the future additions will entail comparatively small expenditure. The building contains a 'pump room,' as well as baths, electrical department, etc. This 'pump room,' which' corresponds to tho Continental 'kursaal,' is thj> most expensive part of the building, bub piovides a long-felt want for tourists — a place where people can foregather in dull weather, where there will always be music and promenade concerts. The niore substantial nature of tho bath buildings and the comfort, warmth, and brightness provided, will enable a winter season to be run as well as a summer, one, and give a steady traffic all tho year "round, and not only a spasmodic crowding in tho summer} GOVERNMENT LOOKING AHEAD. It is intended that tho Government has looked ahead, and has had an eyo open for profit. The new baths will account for about £30,000, but the nros& rovenuo is estimated at £5000 or £6000, and the income will increase. That is all direct revenue, and then comos the indirect benefit, through the railway? and other departments, owin^; to the attraction of visitors to "New Zealand. In 1901, when the Tourist Department was formed, the post and telegraph staff at Rotorua was three ; to-day it numbers .fifteen. It has been said lately that fish is allowed to go to wa,ste at Rotorua, but. Mr. Donne- doer. ' not agree with that, statement. He estimates that about a thousand fish, averaging about 41b each, aro caught overy week. The hotels and boarding houses and private dwelling-places got the bulk, and if theii is any r.urplus it goes to tha Government Sanitorium, whore it makes a valuable item in the diet of rheumatic patients. Tray/ling is rarely practised now ; tho fly is tho popular lure. It isa common spectacle, says Mr. Donne, to haves thirty or, forty anglers in a row in the lake, at a point where several rivers enter, all whipping the water with thk Hy. His theory is that the fifOi, 'seeking fpod, flock to the places where tho rivers come in, and the ease with' which they are caught gives an impro&sipn that the lake is overstocked. Three. 'or four years ago fourteen-pounderi were hooked ; last, year there was ' notliipg much above 91b or 101b; this year tho catches are still smaller. It is Mr. Donne's belief that, with a diminishing food cupply for the trout, and an increasing number of anglers, the .question of conserving the fioh will hayo to be seiiously, considered.