NEWS ITEMS FROM ROTORUA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9151, 5 September 1888, Page 5

NEWS ITEMS FROM ROTORUA.

[by TELEGRAPH.own CORRESPONDENT.] Rotoroa, Tuesday. It is pleasing now-a-days to see tourists really enjoying themselves, and appreciating the varied and quaint sights peculiar to the ancient village of Ohinernutu, such as are nowhere to be seen in any other part of the known world A party have just visited us (a son of the Earl of Stanhope and his companions), who have entered fully into the enjoyment derivable to well cultured minds, and have made the most of their short sojourn in the luxurious baths, and have interested themselves in all that pertains to Maori manners and customs. During the last gale they had what was to them a pleasant experience, being storm-stayed for two days on the picturesque island of Mokoia. Not having made provision for such a contingency, they had to content themselves with Maori fare in all its simplicity, thereby adding a touch of romance to a memorable trip. The departure of the coach at midday for Auckland with an unavoidable halt for the night at Oxford, is far from being popular. A continuance of this arrangement will, I fear, considerably slacken the number of tourists at least by that route. Let us hope that some alteration for the better will soon be made. The native contractors engaged in bush falling for the Patetere Company are having: a sad experience of it. They have all left off work and come into town. From the number of accidents happening, they are getting superstitiously afraid. It is only about two weeks ago that a corpse was carried in, killed by a falling tree, and close following in comes a conveyance bearing a well-known young chief terribly smashed from the same cause. He now lies suffering intense agony in the Sanatorium Hospital, attended by Dr. Ginders and a medical man here on a visit. Some severe and difficult operations had to be performed, which were, I believe, carried out most successfully.