HANMER'S ATTRACTIONS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15919, 3 May 1912, Page 9

HANMER'S ATTRACTIONS

A VISIT BY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. 1 MR G.W. FORBES INTERVIEWED. On Tuesday, Mr G. W. Forbes, member for Hurunui, and Mr R. M'Callum, member for.. Wairau, visited Hanmer and inspected facilities offered to tourists,, patients, and others. To a reporter yesterday, Mr Forbes said that Mr M'Callum and he were greatly pleased with what they saw. They felt that the lighting of the baths should be improved, and it was desirable that the natural gas system should be reverted to, or that an acetylene plant should be established. Proposals were, under consideration, but whatever was done ought to be done before the next season opened, as it was absolutely necessary to have the place properly lighted. . There had been a notable increase in the number of patients at the sanatorium, and of visitors to tho springs. In that respect, the season was a record one. When the public was fully aware of the facilities offered i at- the sanatorium, it would be used, to a much greater extent than it was at present. Br- Duncan, the medical officer, was very popular with both patients and .visitors. It did not seem to be generally known that first-class accommodation, doctor's attendance, massage, and baths were available for the modest fee of £2 '2s a week. Members of friendly eocieties were charged only £1 Is a week- People who had tried the. sanatorium were loud 1 in their praises of the. benefits they had received. The contractor for the deep-well sinking was now engaged on a six-inch well, which, was down , about 120 ft. Tho oontractor was confident that he would obtain a much larger supply of hot water •than was available at present. Pleasure was expressed at the evidenceof practical knowledge given by Mr Horn, who put down the artesian well. Ho was engaged on his last drive, and when' that was completed attention should be given to the lighting reticulation, which should bo taken in hand in the slack season.

The members of Parliament also visited the prison camp. Tho thirty prisoners were away tree-planting at the time. The warder in change stated that the prisoners were doing admirable work. They, on their part, appreciated the system under which they were sent to the.plantations instead of being detained in the ordinary gaols. They did not abuse the regulation which allowed them more liberty at the camp, and the warder spoke enthusiastically of the good that was being done.

Nearly all the ground secured for planting, Mr Forbes said, had been used. Over 2000 acres had been planted with pines, larehe3, and other timbers, and all the trees seemed to thrive excellently. Mr Morrison,' tho nurseryman in charge, had had considerable experience with those trees in different parts of New Zealand. In' view of the fact that more ground was required, the Agricultural Department was trying to arrange for the acquisition of a block Df land in the St Helens Station. Nothing definite had been decided, but there was no doubt that further land was necessary for the success of the scheme. They intended to bring that. fact be'foro • the Minister of Agriculture. There should be 10,000 acres altogether. If that area was secured, a railway lino might be run direct to the plantation. The members, also, had promised to urge on tho. Minister the necessity for planting Dog Creek, which, if beautified, would add fco the attractions of Hanmer.

Thero was a block of manuka-covered land, of about 5009 acres, close to Culverden, and extending towards the Hurunui, which was suitable for treej planting. It was of very little value Ijor grazing or any other purpose, ex-

cept tree-planting. A few pines were growing on it at present, and showed that those trees found "it a congenial soil. The owner had asked Mr Forbes to offer it to the Government, and he would do so. In. the nursei;y at Hanmer there were millions of trees ready to be planted out, and if tlie transaction with the owners of St Helens could not bo completed just yet, large numbers of trees might in the meantime bo planted on the manuka block he had described.

Business people at Hanmer were very pleased with the recent season, and all seemed to be sanguine in regard to the future. When the bridge over the Waipara was completed, iii a few months, the township would be a very good objective for a week-end run in a motor-car.