THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1896.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 181, 20 May 1896, Page 2

THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1896.

Ttie Town Board will meet to-morrow afternoon and as there are several matters of importance to be considered the proceedings will he watched with more than usual interest. The vexed question as to the propriety of the Board leasing the paddock on the banks of the Utuhina Creek for conversion into a sewage farm will, without doubt, be discussed and a course probably marked out which will satisfy residents on the creek that its waters will remain uncontaminated. We understand that the lessees are prepared to surrender . the lease on the Board finding suitable ground elsewhere to allow them to go on with their project. The manner of the disposal of the sewage of the large hotels and boarding-houses must ho considered at once and any steps taken by private individuals to cope with the difficulty, as fur as their own premises aro concornedj should meet with every encouragement at the hands of the Board. The recently prepared byelaws of the local IBoard of Hea th have been in the hands of the law officers of the Crown for the past three weeks and had that expedition been observed which the seriousness of the situation demands, would ere now have been gazotted. Meanwhile it is for the local authority to tako such steps in anticipation of their being brought into force as will enable them to start vigorously to work the moment they have the necessary authority. The sitG of the proposed nightsoil depot should be chosen and arrangements made for commencing that very much flooded work at once. Now that the levels of the town have been obtained there is nothing to delay the initiation of a proper system of drainage and sewerage and the Board should insist on the Government send- | ing an engineer to report on the matj ter without delay. With a practically I inexhaustible supply of water, as far as our present requirements are conI corned, a surface system of drainago

kept continually flushed might be introduced at little expense aad this in itself would much improve the general health of the town. There aro Keveral other matters which we look to see advanced a stage at Thursday's meeting. In our opinion too little attontiofi has been paid to the condition of the streets which com~ prise the town proper. No wonder that there are constant outcries about vehicles being driven along the footpaths when these foot~ paths are not properly defined. The street corners where mo.st of the damage is done could at little expense be pro~ tected by similar ke'rbing to that which a private individual has seen fit to lay down in front of his section in Tutauekai Street. The accumulation of wuter at the corner ofTutunekai street and the road leading to the Old Town--8 lip after nvery rainstorm is another source of much inconvenience. At the junction of the two roads a miniature 1 ike isformed which either overflows or renders impassable tho sidewalk. This nuisance has been allowed to exist, season after season, whereas the laying down of a few lengths of dr in pipe would lead the water into its natural receptacle—the lake. We would also remind the Board that at its meeting last October a resolution was carried that the football area on the Pukeroa Heserve should be ploughed, fenced, Ac. So far nothing has been dono in the matter—the resolution hiiving ap> parently drifted into the Limbo of things forgotten.

" LATER ON." As it is considered likely that the Premier may pay a flying visit to Rotorua in the course of the next few days it may be as well to refresh the minds of those who are likely to comprise the inevitable deputation which is bound to wait upon him, in regard to the various promises made from time to time by himself and colleagues in the House last Session. We are unaware if in any one instance the promises made have been performed. On July 2nd Mr T. Mackenzie asked the Government to consider the expediency of setting up a Royal Commission to report upon two matters: (1) Whether adequate attention is given to the analyses &c., of the various curative waters of the district. (2) Whether a change in the present management of the Sanatorium is desirable. In reply Mr Reeves said that the appointment of a Royal Commission was unnecessary, but that it was desirable tliait a complete analysis should be made f on the spot, and that" later on" a competent analyst would be sent up ; us soon as the weather was favorable—towards the end of Winter. He did not think any change was necessary in the management. On July 9, in reply to another question by Mr T. Mackenzie on the subject of the analyses of the waters, the Premier Said the matter was of impojtance and would be considered " later on." On the same date Mr T. Mackenzie moved the adjournment of the House when the questions of the analyses of the waters and the management of the Baths and Sanatorium wore discussed at length. Mr Reeves o T i this occasion stated that the analyses would bo made " in the Spring." The Premier said he iras not displeased at the matter being brought forward, and, referring to the buildings and arrangements generally, considered that an expenditure of £20,000 would be required to put these in proper order. When they spent this money he thought they should send away to some of the Continental Springs and get men of experience in connection with mineral waters. On July 30th Mr W. Kelly asked the Government what action, if any, had been taken to provide a proper system of drainage and sewerage for the Rotorua township ? To this Mr J.McKcnzie rather in consequently replied that the whole question of the improvement of the " grounds " of Rotorua was then under consideration of the Government, and besides the question of drainage, the construction of more baths and making the place more attractive were also being considered. He said that "later on" the House would be asked to provide money for the purpose. On Sept. 11 the report of Dr Macgregor, Inspector-General of Hospitals, was laid on the table of the House. Inter alia, it stated as follows:—"At Rotorua the Hospital is admirably conducted, but it is merely meant to accommodate poor people. The existing bath accommodation has been outgrown, especially since the opening of the railway. New baths specially designed for tourists and invalids who are able to pay ought to be provided. Many persons object to use the present Hospital baths and expect more attention tlianDr Ginders can give. An active young man skilled in Continental balnealogical methods should be brought out to attend to non-pauper invalids and travellers. But to do this without a comprehensive scheme and a vote to carry it out would be waste of money." On October 11 Mr W. Kelly quoted from this report and asked the Government whether any steps had been taken to carry out the recommendation of Dr MacGregor ? Mr J. McKenzie said the matter was under consideration and proniised that " later on" he would state the course of action the Government would pursue in the matter. On October 21 the Public Works Statement was laid before the House. It contained no provision for the drainage and sewerage of the town, although Mr J. McKenzie had made a distinct promise in regard to the matter. Out of £1,500 required for the extension of the water supply, £2ooonly wasprovided, which has gone in the construction of the settling tank. Out of £SOO voted for Public Works more than half had been spent in anticipation, and of the sum of £IOOO for bath accommodation, which had appeared for three successive years but had never been made available, £550 has at length been placed on the schedule. These few facts carry their own deductions, and will no doubt be referred to "latter on " when the general election is in progress, in fact.