TUESDAY, JANUARY 18. THE THERMAL DISTRICT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 76412, 13 January 1903, Page 2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18. THE THERMAL DISTRICT.

Interviewed at Auckland (he other day, Sir Joseph Ward was able to give S< very satisfactory account of the result of the work of tbe Tourist Department in the North. He has just revisited Rotorua and all the inland districts between Wanganui and Auckland, and was, therefore, able to speak from what ha saw as well as from his official knowledge. He said: "I feel quite Bure that when the arrangements now existing at Rotorua are better known, ' thousands of bur

own > people who have not yet sten our thermal wonderjand will be only too ready' to visit it if the requisite couVeniencts for travelling are available for thek use. What has aireaHy been dons has added materially to the comfort and ' pleasure of the many visitors who reg >rd Rotorua aod the adjuotnt thermal springs country as the ceutml at'ractiun of the colony, and a wonderland such oa cannot be equalled in any other part of the world. There is no doubt, however, that the sea trip from New Plymouth to Onehunga deters many people from spending thoir holidays at Rotorua. That is agtrorigt argument in favour of completing the* North Island Trunk railway. I feel confident when that line is completed tbe large numbeia that now go to Rotorua. will be coinparaively few to the thousands who will find their way to the thermal apt ings district. I consider Rotorva a mo.-t valuable asset and one that should be exploited to' the utmost. -Where else are euch t-xcel lent opporcuniii-^a afforded ol wifci, easing the wondt-rs of ih;rmal action as at Rotorua, W&ftk-irewtirewa and W&iotapo,' Wairakei and Taupo, to say nothing t f the Waimangu geyser ? Apart, however, from the mere spectacular question, (here ! is the more important one of the great curative properties of the ba'hs, which must draw many sufferers to Rotorua who seek to benefit iheir health oud rid. themselves of various ailrnenta in nature's laboratory. In the oldor countries', where there are natural wonder?, the places a>e almost supported by the tourist traffic, and as those wealthy visitors look around for fresh places to go to, it is the object of tbe tourist to let them know, that in New Zealand there exist marvellous, natural wonders, including some of tbe most re-, markable geysers in the world/ He went on to say that he* believed that in the not distant future the tourists alone will be worth a few millions lo the colony, and probably he is net exaggerating. In a conversation with aTmembof of our Btftff the other day, one of the most travelled of the English cricket team remarked that he had visited pretty well the whole of tbe civilised world, and having seen Rotorua he knew of no place which would, bo more attractive to wealthy men and women of -teisure, if it were as well known in England and on the Continent as it should be. No doubt the 4istance . from Europe is a serious drawback, but with tbe splendid steamer, services now in operation the difficulty is not no great as it was. The Govern* ment is spending a great deal of money at Rotorua, but it appears as if it will certainly prove reproductive.

Nelson brewers do not use glucose in the manufacture of boer. According to the New Zealand Herald, a larger number of tourists are visiting Auckland this year than ever before. A picturesque herd of Highland cattle is to be seen on the heights surrounding Dunedin city. The place is eminently suited for raising this breed of cattle. The weather prophets predict a ho.t, dry summer. Which summer and when? A quantity of potatoes being gro^m in South- Wairarapa this season are intended for the South. African market. The Poverty Bay Land Board has passed a resolution that to meet the increasing demands for land in that district, the K Board respectfully urge on the Government the advisability of taking over the East Coast Native Trust lands. ,v, v The Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association passed a. resolution endorsing that of the International Sheep Breeders' Conference at Carlisle, that the increasing adulteration of woollen goods and the substitution of inferior materials demands immediate " legislative action. A copy of the resolution is to be sent to the English Sheep Breeders' Association, and the New Zealand Minister of Agriculture. A horse in mid-air is a rather unusual sight, but such was witnessed this morning (says the Wanganui Herald). A drayload of wool was. being backed into the N.Z. L. and M.A. Company's premises, when it tipped, hoisting the shafter with it, and. there, the animal remained till the harness was loosed, ' when it dropped again on /terra firma, little the worse of its aerial suspension. The Te Aroha* News states :— We learn on good authority- that Dr Kenny, formerly of the Waikato Hospital, and at present engaged by the Government in connection, with the Sanatorium at Rotorua, has been appointed by the Government to. take charge of the Te Aroha Hot. Springs Domain/ Up to the present 57 polls have been taken in all parts of the colony On the question of adopting the system of rating land on the unimproved values, 3 in cities, 32 in ■ boroughs, 1 in a town district, 13 in counties, and 8 in road districts. Christchurch adopted the system by 596 votes to 515, and tYallington by 1261 to 591, While Auckland rejected it, by 1697 to 736. In boroughs 26 polls were carried out of 32, and in counties, 12 out pf« 13, while all the polls in road districts were in favor of, the system. Out of the 57 polls 49 have been carried and 8 lost. Thus a contemporary — Waihi will, soon become the elysium of the working man. Take the Borough. Council's treatment of its servants in the holidays. Every man Jack of them received his full wages of eight shillings a 4ay for the period of tne Christmas stoppage.' And the Council was not content with generosity to its direct employers, but served out the same kind of sauce to the staffs, of its contractors," and carters* As one good turn deserved ' another, the workmen on their part put up a sum of money with which to entertain the Borough Fathers at a dinner. Happy Waihi! And indulgent ratepayers 1 It is stated that Waihi has close on £10,000 to : spend . annually in the borough, and .under these circumstances the Council can afford- to be •a bit generous. . The Dunedin Star, referring to the subjects likely to be dealt with by the Premier in his coming speech at Hokitika, remarks :— " He may not impossibly state that the Legislative Council will be strengthened by naw appointments. This is determined upon, but it is safe' to predict that •there will be no swamping of that Chamber with , failures at the polls, or persons whose sole qualifications are party service. Sir Maurice O'Rorke will certainly be nominated, and Mr Carncross will have an offer, but the ordinary ruck of, the camp followers of the Ministry will be passed over. We should -amoh. like to see the services of certain ,veteran politicians recoffnisetd,— Sir John Hall, for instance, who has special claims 'on the colony, and- the Hon W. Eolleston, who was tKe original pro^ jnoter of the present liberal landlaws." • • r ; The High Commissioner of South .Africa has sent the New Zealand Defence Minister the following notice for the information, of New Zealanders ■concerned in • a special war gratuity for men who had served- in the SouthConstabulary :—F o rms of ap : ■plication for payment of the gratuity may bo obtained from the Chief -Paymaster, South African Constabulary, -Johannesburg^ by men who served 'with the South African Constabulary ©n or before 31st May, JL9O2,- and nave taken their discharge. These forms, when completed, should be returned to the Chief Paymaster, South African Constabulary; accompanied by discharge certificates from all corps to regiments in which the applicant has served during the war. No gratuity is payable to men who have been discharged for misconduct ; neither is the gratuity paid by the South African Constabulary if applicant has served in any other corps or regiment ' since leaving the South African. Constabulary; Mr H. King, who has just .returned from a trip to the Old Country, an a chat with a Star representative, gave a -very interesting account of his journey. Mr King left Hawera about' ten months ago, and travelled \jy what is known as the Suez route. This he regards as much, the best way to go, on account of the short time which is ' spent .at sea at one time. Colombo is a lovely place. It is the only Oriental place touched at by the steamer, and the charm of everything being so s foreign arid strange is very marked. The one drawback to the place, is the amount of begging which goes on there. 'One is pestered the whole time one ■ stays there — mostly by maimed children. Mr King :had a splendid trip Home, except for a little trouble in the Bay of Biscay; and arrived on May 24th, just &i ihe beginning of spring. In describing the appearance of England, the traveller said that he never saw a more beautiful sight than when he landed— the bright vernal green of the grass, trees, and shrubs being beyond description. This /peculiar greenness lasts just , a month. •- Mr King spent most of his time with his relations in Northamptonshire, but was fully a month 'off and on in London. He was greatly impressed' by the pro.-' gress that, had ; been made since *he was last, in ..England,; .and could hartily believe she was behind the times ; in fact, he thought she was well to the. fore. He .returned via the Cape, and intended to pick, up his wife at Capetown, but, owing" to Hie outbreak of small-pojc, the steamer was not allowed to take passengers, and he had to come on alone, which was a great disappointment. Mr King thoroughly enjoyed himself, and speaks' in very high, terms of praise the way in which; he was welcomed, not only by his friends, but also by -people generally, owing to the fact that he was' a colonial. '