THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1896. LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 185, 17 June 1896, Page 4

THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1896. LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Tourists travelling between Rotorua and Auckland can rely upon getting an excellent hot. luncheon at the Frankton fiofnl', Frankton Junction, where the train stops 20 minutes.* A leading article and other matter are unavoidably held over.

The Sydney Bulletin can bo obtained weekly at the CiritOXICLE Office.* '1 lie midwinter school recess commences on Friday. The school resumes on Monday Jund 2!).

Mr S. Dando draws attention to the stock ol bedsteads, mattresses and furniture at his stoic near the Catholic Church. Mr P. Mcllroy inserts a notice regarding accounts owing to the late firm of Mcllroy and Mnrchesseau.

The Magistrate's Court sits on Friday. Thei'e are about a dozen cases awaiting Colonel Robert's decision.

Stead s Masterpiece Library, Numbers 1,2 and 3to hand, Threepence each at CIIKOXK.'LE Office.'

The Public Trustee notifies that all claims against the estate of 11. W. Neighbour should bo sent to the Public Trust Office, Wellington, or to Mr J. A. Clark, agent, Tauranga, before August 28. Lieut. Col. Roberts has received instructions to administer (ho oath to the recently appointed Justuses of the Peace' in this district viz.. il'r S. T. Brent, and Mr Joseph Vi'ylie, Galatea.

We have been asked if there is any truth in the report which lias been circulated here during the past few days that Mr William Kelly is to be given the vacant portfolio of Treasurer. We do not see that with their present following the Government could do much better. Ihe Town Board calls for applications from persons desirous of filling the offices of Town clerk, treasurer, inspector of nuisances and slaughteryards and clerk of works, art a salary of 2 per annum, or alternatively for tenders to fill the seperale offices as stated elsewhere. At a meeting of the School Committee last night the master (Mr Webber) reported that since the publication of the recent notice to parents the attendance had increased in a most marked manner and that the average now stood at over 87 per cent. The report of the visiting member was of a satisfactory nature. Amongst -the petitions presented to Parliament is 0110 from Henry A. Austin and Henry Mounsey seeking for substantial recompense for wrongful arrest on a charge of being concerned in Ihe llotonia Post-office robbery. Another ♦'• om W. .7. Smith of Eotonia asks for relief in *. . v.- of military services rendered to s|he colony. It will be seen from our report of the proceedings of the Town Board that the latter has been granted a sum of ~\s per week in addition to the amount of 4s per week pa ; d to his wife for some time p;;st.

A telegram front His Honor Judge Wilson received this morning- states that the Native Land Court will resume its sittings here on Monday next. The Mangorewa JCaliaroa partition will be the first case culled. We have receivod a few more numbers Fiordlaxd, Glacier - land, GeyseSL VXD, a beautifully illustrated and faithfully written guide to the tourist resorts of these islands. The section devoted to a description of this district is of much iotereest. Copies may be obtained at the CiihoxVle Office.*

It is satisfactory to own that the injuries sustained by Mr l J ope who, as reported in a recent issue, was thrown fro.n his horse near Fongakawa, are not so serious as at first feared. On examination by the doctor two of his ribs were found to be broken, and he was suffering from bronchitis the result of his night's exposure to the cold. The census returns for this district are as follows;—-llotorua County : males 504 females 335, total 839; half castes- -males 27, females 3(i. Chinese 1. East Taupo ; males 157, females 75, total 232 ; half castes—males 14, females 13. West Taupo: males 98, females 58, total 15(i; half castes—males 9. females (i. The total population of Tauranga county is 1G22 and that of Whakatane 1987.

A choice selection of oil paintings by Mr C. Blomfield may now be seen at the Chronicle Office. They comprise views in this neighborhood, Wairakei, Whakarewarewa, &c., and from their faithfulness and attention to detail are well Worth the attention of lofers of art. In addition to these there are a number of water color sketches suitable for birthday or Easter Cards.*

Tl io natives of Mokoia Island in appreciation of tlio kindness shown by Lady Glasgow towards old Keepa Ngakau in sending liini a case of cordials to relieve his sufferings, have handed to Mr Macdonald, for transmission to the Countess, a curiously wrought toki. or arize, and an ancient piece of Maori carving in the shape of a pare, or top-piece of an old pataka or store-house. Mr Malfroy has given instructions to Sophia, the caretaker at Whukarewarewit, to the effect that the use of soap in order to induce action in the Wairoa and other geysers mUst be henceforth discontinued, Mr Malfroy is anxious that the geyser action at Whak are ware wa should be allowed to resume its normal condition in anticipation of the proposed experiments for the reviving of Waikite. The Kotorua To - Teko road is now open for vehicular traffic to two miles past T.ipuaeharuru at the head of Lake Eotoiti. The first buggy went through on Saturday last returning to Kotorua the same day. The party rested their horses :it Mr Grant's and walked through the hush by Hongi's track to Kotoeliu. It beyond dispute that this will be one of flie most favorite (rips next tourist season. The road is a good one and as it pusses through TikitCre the contrast between its wierd and desolate aspect and the luxuriant vegetation along the rest of the route is most striking. A slight shoe'' of earth qua'e was felt by residents on the T'arewa road about .3' o'clock yesterday morning. In the com fie of the day it was observed that the temperature of the Kuirau had lowered considerably, and at G o'clock p.m. it was down to about OOdeg. It, was also observed that the water rose and fell at intervals in a most peculiar manner. and that the outflow which is calculated at about 1,000,000 gallons per 24 hours, had almost, entirely ceased. Such rapid changes in the temperature and level have not been known save in the memory of thc_ oldest residents who state that at one time the natives were in the habit of bathing in it. Mr Turner who is at present locating the road between Kuatahuma and Waikaremoana is again getting into complications with the natives along the line of supposed route. They 'naturally resent the action of the surveyors when they run a line through their cultivations though matters are generally squared by a lengthly korero after which a fresh line of departure is taken. There is no serious opposition feared. An Auckland paper, referring to the matter, states that the natives consider the proposed road will destroy part of the " Miro Forest " whence thev get " waggons " for food. Itatl er hard tack this even for a Urewera. Presumably, "pigeons" were alluded to till the intelligent operator got to work.

Messrs Alfred Jfathnn and Moss Davis paid a short visit to Rotorua last week arriving on Saturday night and leaving on Monday mommcr. Mr .T. Currie, architect accompanied them. We understand that several improvements are contemplated in the hotels under their control. At the Geyser House, Whafearewarewa. an upper story will he added to the eastern wing which will contain a new drawintr room and about twenty bedrooms. The house will also he thoroughly overhauled in anticipation of the opening of the season. At LaVo House the improvements will consist of extensive alterations to the bar. and the addition of a bar-parlor. The batli-house. which has boon allowed to got sadlv out of repair, will also be renovated and the grounds will receive considerable attention. Several alterations are also contemplated in the interior of the " Grand " which wilVhe conducive to the comfort of visitors. The bowling-green, which is at present being laid out bvMr George Gay, is beginning to assume its proper appearance, and when finished is bound to become a point of attraction to visitors and residents.

The Band of Hone concert on Friday hist was admitted by regular attendants to be one of the most successful ever given. The audience wits large and enfhusiatic, encorinsr evcrv item capable of being encored. The choruses and recitations by the children and the anthems bv the choir were rendered with rare efficiency. The accompaniments throughout the evening were played by the Misses Cross iind Bobinson in a most, judicious manner. Miss Thomson, whose voice has much improved of hitc both in tone and exptession sane " Tsle of Beauty " most sweetly, and Mrs Wilson was heard to great advantage in " You'd better bide a wee. The duet, *' Home to our Mountains," was effectively rendered by Miss Bobinson and Mrs Steele. Mr Williams acquitted himself well in "The Holy City,'' and in addition gave a violin solo.

" Grace Darling " in a irnsierly manner. Sniio-s were also given by Messrs Webber. Willacy and Cross, and much amusement was created by Mr C. Cross's " Biddies." I'he Rev. S. fngle occupied the Chair and made a few appropriate remarks in ihe course of the evening.

Considerable quantities of sulphur are now being brought to town by the natives and despatched to Auckland by train. Last week about 100 tons left the railway station. The sulphur is principally obtained from the neighborhood of Tikitere, brought across the la' c by boat, and landed on the Shore close to the site of the proposed wharf. The want of wharf accommodation is therefore morn felt than ever.

There having been one or two departures from here recently to one or other of the mining centres the following extracts from a letter written to a friend by one of the pilgrims (Mr J. F. Peatson ) will prove of interest:—On leaving Kotorua I went to have a look at Coromandel but as it rained most of the time I was there I could see nothing but mud, miners and mining machinery. The lower end of the township which is more thickly populated can boast of only one street, and the footpath is n< t m ueh bsi 13i-to walk upon than the road w. y. T N condition after continuous rain can be more easily imagined than described. Thinking that a long sojourn there would for ine spell rheumatism I packed iay traps and steered for Auckland

Arrived at the Thames, I found the streets in great contrast to those of Coromandel. They are all asphalted or concreted with good metalled roads and a strong flow of water running in wooden tables on each side of the streets. The sea at high tide flows close' tip to one side of the town, so taken altogether it must be a fairly healthy place to live in. At present, however, there are one or two cases of typhoid, but as fever is everywhere rampant that is nothing to go by Send me the ChroxicLE regularly so that 1 can keep myself posted up to date with what is going on in the City of Hot Lakes and Sulphur. PETTIFOGGING SCHEMERS Are trying to find a nlarket for their bogus beverages by mean imitation and counterfeiting of Wolfe's Schnapps, Dos't waste money on their trash.