LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 213, 2 January 1897, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Stead's Masterpiece library, Numbers 1, 2 and 3to haiii'l, Threepence each at Chkoxicle Office.* The Tuhourangi Brass Band, under Mr H. Stewart's conductorsbip, spent a pleasant three days' visit to Waihi last week. The Sydncv Bulletin and the Auckland Observer can bo obtained at the CmtoxiCJJE News Agency.* The Tasmania will sail for Sydney from Auckland at o.tJO p.m. on Monday, January Ilth, instead of 4 p.m. as before advertised, and also all steamers following during the same month.

The WaHtiMiner people made ample preparation for a prolonged Christinas jollification. They ceased publication on December 22nd' and will resume on January sth.

The next sitting of the Maori " Kotnhitanga " Parliament will be openeu at the settlement of Papawai, in the Wairarapa, on the 14th April next. The meeting is being called by circulars issued by the clerk to the Kingite Parliament which sat early this year at Tokaanu, Late Taupto.

The Rotorua drainage scheme proposed by Mr Hayes has been considered by the Cabinet. The Total cost of the scheme will be £9OOO, subject to certain alterations. Further expert assistance will be invited before the schemo is finally adopted.

A sitting of the Native Land Court is to be held at \Vhakatane in January next to decide the ownership of certain blocks of land in the Urewera Country. An informant states that the land is auriferous and con tain's reefs, some of which shows gold in the stone. A most successful promenade concert was held in the Sanatorium Grounds on Thursday evening. A large concourse of people assembled on the occasion. "We were pleased that a large number of visitors assisted in the vocal part of the programme. The proceeds were in aid of the Library Building Fund and amounted 1 to £4. 1259.U1.

A choice selection of oil paintings by Mr C. Bloinfield may now be seen at the Ciiuoxirt.E Office. .They' comprise views in this neighborhood, Wairakei, Whaiarcwarewa, &c, and from their faithfulness and attention to detail arc well worth the' attention of lovers of art. In addition 1o these there are a number of water color sketches suitable for birthday Or Easter Cards.-*

Wo have io acknowledge the receipt of two excellent photographs of the members of Hie Rotorua Amateur Dramatic Company as (hoy appeared recently" in " Conn the Shaughraun." The grouping is artistically arranged and the photographer, Mr James Reid of Hamilton, has succeeded in producing a highly effective and life like picture. It is an interesting souvenir of a most successful performance. A selection of mmature views of the various places of interest in and around Rotorua, Wha'<arewarewa, &0., has been received at the Ciuiomcxe Office. These little oil paintings are by Mr J. P. Baekhonse of Xewton Road, Auckland, and are well worthy the attention of those desirous of possessing or of sending to their friends an interesting and artistically executed souvenir of the district;

The Chief Postmaster desires us to refer to a special notice recently issued by the Secretary of the Department warning the public against sending money and valuable articles in nnregistorfed letters. The practice is a foolish one, as for the small sum of threepence per letter the protection is ensured, it being very rare that a registered letter is lost, and though envolopes covering correspondence invariably reach their destination it dues happen that if coveting inoney or any article other than paper their very bulkiness is dangerous to safe delivery A highly successful concert was given in the Sanatorium ground last Saturday fdgbt. Dr Ginders presided and Miss Brabant played the accompaniments with the greatest precision. The Committee of the Library were responsible for the arrangements and it is unnecessary to say that they were carried out in the most satisfactory manner. In that respect the names of Messrs Purcell and Fitzgerald may bo specially mentioned. AVo have (says the Jltrahl) received several complaints with respect to railways and steamers not making adequate or suitable provision for the holiday season. One suggestion wo beg to bring to the notice'of the railway authorities. A train might leave Auckland, it is urged, for Rotorua on Thursday aiternoon by which tickets might bo issued enabling passengers to return on the following Monday. This would give a suitable and convenient holiday without trenching on any business day.-

In reference to a discussion which footpace at the hist meeting of the Town Board the following extract from the Impounding Act will bo of interest. It bears out Mr Dansey's retnarks on the occasion :—Whenever any cattle have been seized for trespass by any occupier' for the purpose of impounding the same if the' owner of the cattle or some person on his behalf pay or tender the trespass rate and the driving rate to the person seizing or haying charge of such cattle shall forth with deliver up the same to the owner or the person tendering on his behalf such trespass rate and driving rate.

Mr James Shaw has to bo c'onarratillaiod on tlio success of the Aquatic Sporfs organised hy him on the Lake on Boxing Day. "We want a few more men in Rotorua like; Mr Shaw. He is full of energy and push arid wo only feel sorry that the exigencies of spa'ce preclude the possibility of doing proper justice to his capabilities. The following is the. result of the events :'—Canoe Race .' Owhata, 1; Rotorua. 2. Canoe Hurdle Race : Owhata, 1 ; Eotoru'a. 2". Men's Swimming Race : Rotorua, 1 ; Owhata, 2. Boys' J-Mile Race : Xgaroata, 1 ; Tommy, 2. Boys' Race: Hodge, 1 ; Pokiahau, 2. Girls' Race: Owhata 1; Rotorua 2. AVOLFES SCHNAPPS

Has its perfectly pure medicinal virtues and is fully appreciated by the millions all over the world who habitually use

Rotorua, with, its mineral springs and buried terrace', has to show tliem, f •. take the coach as far as Wairakei. It is a fine drive across n wild onen couniry, and iho road is good. At Wairakei, •">(> mile from Rotorua and I six from Tistipo, the/ wilt find every I comfort and convenience at Mrj Grij h«im's excellent hotel. The g-ounda are extensivo, and the baths, free to visitors at the hotel are good and easily acC3RR»/ile. being in the grounds About a mile away lies the Geyser Valley. It is an extraordinary place quite a valley of w uders, well worth a visit to for its natural beinties alone. It abounds in picturesque peep*. The banks of the stream are lined with ferns. We oonntecl some 20 varieties. Besides this it is full of natural wonders. Thirteen geysers, more or less active, are found on the banks of the stream. Perhaps the most striking is the Champagne Cauldron, a large hot. spring of clear water, bosomed in the hollow rock, full of gas, which when liberated by throwing in a piece of titree scrub, frotb.es and sparkles like a glass of champagne. This is, wo be. lieve, the original Champagne Pool, the name having been borrowed from it for pools of a similar kind in other places. Pursuing a narrow path on the right bank of the stream, under the lender-hip of the careful and intel- • ligent guide 'Mack," we eome to the Great and Little Wairakei Geysers. Seating ourselves on a bench we watch the former, which plays every seven minutes. Pursuing our way we come to the Lightning Pool, where the gas rising in largo bubbles in the clear water flashes in the sunlight like lightning. Cross.ng tho stream, we get another view of the Champagne Cauldron across tho creek. From an artistic point of view this is tho best place to see it from. Farther down, after a scramble over the rocks, we find the Twin Geysers. The greater Twin plays eveiy few minutes. Wo sit down opposite and wait for tho Prince of Wales, which plays every halt hour. Wiiiist waiting here wo admire tho tumbled masses of rock, coated with a white crust, lying in wild confusion before us, relieved hv the delicate green of the ferns. Tho The Piiice of Wales Geyser shoots out two delicate sprays laterally in a form resembling the Prince of Wales feathers. It only plays for seven seconds, and upon the occasion of our visit His Koyal Highness did not favor us with even so long an exhibition a- that, but it win refreshing to rest, in this shady nook. ITard by is tho Blue Pool, now partly destroyed by a landslip; the Eagle's Nest, the' sidesof which are formed of petrified sticks which have lake:: the form of it huge bird s nest, and the Cor .1 Ter ; race, a miniature tcrr-we of bright red hematite depo-.it. There is also tho' Black Geyser, wh n se inky sides aro stained with manganese :• Satin's Footprint, Hell's Mouth, and the two' boiling mudholos known as the Milk Pool and tho Porridge Pot. Perhaps the greatest curiosity of all is the' Steam Hammer'. You stand over a still | 00l and hear far below tho deep "thud, ihud, thud," as of sonw enormous hammer hidden awav in tho bowels of the earth. It, has a most uncanny effect. You can see nothing, everything around is still, whilst this heavy thumping is c'oritinully going on beneath your feet. The cause is not precisely known. It may arise from the beating of the water into some hollow of the rocks underground We cannot pretend to describe everything in this truly wonderful valley. It is quite unique, and ought on no account to ho missed. No other part of the thermal district has anything at all to show like it. In other places tho hot springs and geyseis lie in bare, barren spots with no interesting surfotfridirtes. At Wairakei we have tho same and greater wonders of nsture concentrated in a valley of picturesque beauty, whore the artist will be tempted to take out his sketch book, and the botanists will gather specimens. It may justly bo called" The Gem of tho Hot Lakes District.''' The entrance is only a milo front tho hotel. A guide is absolutely necessary, but there are Maori (oils .Theßniiids. the Iluka Falls, and the Blow Hole aro' also well worth seeing. Speaking us disinterested travellers', not connected with the district, we strongly advise tourists by no means to miss Wai-~ rakei.