THE SPOUT BATHS
A LOSS TO ROTORUA RESTORATION QUESTION Well known throughout the Dominion and abroad, aim once one of the most noted features of 'Rotorua, the spout baths at Whakarewarewa have been out ..of use for about three years, and the building is now in a state of serious disrepair, much damage having been done by vandals (says the ‘ New Zealand Herald ’). Practically all the windows have been broken, doors are sagging, and the floors are covered with broken glass. Taps and pipes are rusty, and the building, which is open to any passer-by, is a picture of desolation.
The surroundings are in little better state. Thermal activity in this area, which is on the left' of the bridge as the visitor enters Whakarewarewa, has almost ceased. There is one large pool of boiling water, in front of the baths, but many of the smaller pools have dried up* Residents state that, there has been a steady decline in activity for 10 vears or more.
The falling off in the flow of hot water to the spout baths was reported in January, 1943. The trouble was attributed to a subterranean fault. ' In October of that year the Minister in charge of the Tourist and Publicity Department, Mr Parry, announced that reports' on an investigation were being studied, and that he hoped shortly to make an announcement of u scheme recommended by the Government balneologist, Dr T. M. Blair. Two mouths later Mr Parry was reported to have stated that a decision to construct a dam to arrest the outflow of water; and so revive the spout baths, had been made. A special report was then sought from Mr M. Modrijiak, geologist to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. So far. however, there has been no definite indication that the baths are to be restored, or how this is to be done. In some quarters it is believed that there can be no restoration on their present site. According to one authority, the lack of cold water with which to reduce the temperature of the hot mineral.water, even if the latter could be obtained, in sufficient quantity, is a factor militating against restoration of the present baths. A large cold stream flows past the baths, but its water is considered unsuitable for various reasons, one of them being pollution. Tt is believed by some people that the best course would be to construct new spout baths near the Postmaster Pool at the southern end of the lake and pipe them to the hot water overflow from the Maggie Papakura Geyser. It is stated by sponsors of this scheme that the water has a good mineral content, and that, after losing some of its heat while passing through the pipe, would not require dilution with cold water. It would thus retain its fullj mineral strength. Thermal activity is such an unpredictable quantity that some people regard any scheme to restore the baths as highly speculative. All agree, however, that *thev were a great asset to Rotorua, and "hope that some method will be devised to overcome the difficulties.
“ Among badly-depleted business, the Post Office stands high. There is an acute staff shortage in the telephone and telegraph services. You have to wait patiently for trunk calls, and there was a cartoon the other day in a London newspaper of a barrister addressing a court and saying: ‘J propose to prove that the defendant had no intention of deserting his wife. He just went out to make a trunk call.’ ” —Lionel Hale.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 25677, 28 December 1945, Page 3
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591THE SPOUT BATHS Evening Star, Issue 25677, 28 December 1945, Page 3
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