ROTORUA NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8881, 18 May 1892, Page 6

ROTORUA NEWS.

[from OCR OWN correspondent.] The tourist arrivals during the past week numbered 22. There are now 35 remaining at the hotels and 10 patients at the Government sanatorium. The great event of the week was the football match, which took place on Saturday last on the Pukeroa ground, between a team from Kaponga and the local followers of the leather. The visitors won by 3 points to 1.

Mr. J. Mcßae succeeded in bagging 20 brace of pheasants at Galatea during a six days' visit; and in the neighbourhood of Atiamuri Mr. John McNicol, the well-known auctioneer, and party, averaged five brace a day. Other sportsmen who cannot venture too far away have done fairly well. Mr. Carr has started for Te Puke, where there is said to be plenty of birds, but they are somewhat wild. The Native Minister, Mr. Cadman, who will arrive on Tuesday or Thursday, intends to arrange with the natives around here the vexed question of tolls. This is a very important matter to this district, which the Hon. Mr. Cadman no doubt readily recognises, and such being the case, it is hoped that whatever terms or arrangements are made, they will prove alike satisfactory to the native owners of the soil and the travelling public. The tendency to increase toll gates should be by no means encouraged. The latest addition to tins abnoxious system of raising revenue is at Te Is'gae landing, Is (id having to be paid by the owner of the steam launch each time passengers disembark for Tikitero. Mr. Kelly, M.H.R., who will arrive along with Mr. Cadman, is expected to give a pre-sessional address to his constituents here. ,r, . The annual meeting of the Thermal Springs Special Licensing Committee is advertised to take place on the 10th prox. Nothing is heard now of the proposed new hotel in the township, the plati3 of which were submitted at the last annual meeting. A house on wheels afforded some change to the monotony of the daily routine of affairs in our city of sulphur fumes and steam. 'I he building recently purchased by Mr. Griliith.s was successfully removed on Wednesday by Mr. G. McAuly and his men, to a site near the English Church parsonage. The Hon. Mr. Smyth, a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, _ took occasion recently, when speaking in his place in the House, as reported in the Parliamentary debates of that colony, to refer to New Zealand as follows: —" I have just returned from New Zealand. Two years ago that colony was in as bad a position as Queensland, and what is its condition now? New Zealand _ is_ now one of the most prosperous countries in the world." Mr. Smyth was at Rotorua on a lengthened visit taking the baths during the past season, and his eulogistic remarks in reference to this colony should be encouraging to those who have thrown in their lot iu the Greater Britain of the South, although they are at times prone to cry it down. A party of tourists visited Tarawera Mountain yesterday, and experienced a stormy passage across the Lake. A still breeze blowing from the south caused a heavy sea to rise, which delayed the progress of the boat, preventing the passengers reaching the summit of the mountain and get back before dark. The party were ueder the guidance of Warbrick, who is an experienced boatman, and reached home in safety. The steam launch left this morning to try and make a trip through to Lake Rotoiti. If successful in negotiating the Ohau channel, the cruise will be a pleasant one, and it will be the first time since Lord Onslow s trip, now fully twelve months ago, that the launch has left Rotorua Lake. A conversazione under the auspices of the Rotorua Christian Association took place in the schoolroom on Monday, 9th inst., and passed off highly satisfactory, a pleasant and instructive evening being spent. A lecture on the Holy Land, illustrated with views, was given by the Rev F. Spencer, assisted by the Rev. W. Rutherford, and proved very interesting. Musical and vocal selections were given by the following ladies and gentlemen : Mesdames Ginders, Samson, Misses Ginders, Cox, Hodge, Burt, Malfroy, and L. Robinson, Messrs. Moor, Fitzgerald, and Samson. Light refreshments were provided, and the sum of £4 realised in aid of the church funds.