ROTORUA NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9404, 10 January 1894, Page 3

ROTORUA NEWS.

Ik confirmation of my' remarks last week anent the dangerous condition of theNgongo- , tahi and Utuhina brieves,, Messrs. Marchesseau and Co., mail' contractors, have deemed it prudent to send a telegram to the Minister of Public Works, stating that they will hold the Government responsible for any damage their coaches may sustain, in the event of a mishap at either of the abovementioned bridges. Whilst the coach proprietors are thus taking precautionary measures to protect their property against possible loss, what about the unfortunate passengers, who may get badly hurt? The whole affair assumes a very serious aspect, and should an accidentunfortunately take place, the Government would not be blameless in the matter. Mr. E. Robertson, coach proprietor, met with a painful accident very simply. On Saturday he had been in the act of hitching a horse by a rope to a post, and when just about to fasten a knot, the horse rushed backwards suddenly, tightening the knot, in which Mr. Robertson's thumb got caught, stripping the nail and flesh clean off from the first joint. The wound was dressed by Dr. Girdler. Mr. Robertson is not one who gives in readily to anything, and did not absent himself a day from his business. He saw fit, however, to make a present of the horse to a party who was about to go a journey. So the old proverb, even in this case, still demands respect —that it is an ill wind that blows nobody good. At last the Salvation Army have reached Rotorua. A detachment opened fire on Saturday. One of the members speaks Maori fluently, and by this means the Army is likely to take with the natives. So far the invasion has awakened some interest in a movement winch has long been denied to this locality. Amongst the visitors who have once more renewed their acquaintance with this district are the Hon. Mr. Smyth, M.L.C.of Queensland, and member for Gympie. The Hon. Mr. Simms and Mr. Colley, of Adelaide, all of whom have been annual visitors to the baths for several years back. The Hon. Mr. Oliver and wife, of Wellington, are still here, also Mr. J. Shaw, ex-Mayor of Adelaide. The last-named has just returned from Tikitere, where he spent a week at the baths with some benefit to himself. The native owners of Tikitere have once more met in solemn conclave, and decided to increase the charges to visitors by 100 per cent. This is quite in keeping with their idea of pakeha ways, to grasp as much as they can, in fact to make hay while the sun shines. But it is hard to believe that tourists, who are not all millionaires, will quietly submit, and rather than pay 4s for what formerly cost 2s they will decline to go near Tikitere. The consequence will :be general dissatisfaction amongst visitors and a loss to coach proprietors. The charge of 6s at Waiotapu is also beyond what is fair and reasonable, and no doubt deters many from visiting it. For to all these toll fees the cost of coach fare has to be added. The visit of the Hon. Mr. Cadman, as Native Minister, a few years ago is still fresh in the memory of most of us. It will be remembered that on the occasion referred to Mr. Cadman came here expressly to interview the natives, and did so for the purpose of getting them to agree to the Government fixing a reasonable and settled scale of toll fees to the various places frequented by tourists, and failing the natives agreeing to this a sort of threat was held out that public roads would be opened to all these sight-seeing localities, and the revenue now derivable from these sources would for ever become a thing of the past. But further than Mr. Cadman in his official capacity favouring us with his presence for a day or so, nothing whatever has been the outcome of the visit in question. When the Hon. Messrs. Rolleston and Bryce were in office they managed to make a satisfactory deal with the natives at Whakarewarewa, and there has been no bother in that quarter to speak of since. The fee there is Is 6d without a guide, or including the latter, 2s 6d.

Bathgate House, notwithstanding its roomy quarters, is still found to be inadequate to meet the demands made upon it for accommodation. Mr. Brent, the enterprising proprietor, therefore contemplates having further additions ready for next tourist season. There are 51 visitors staying at Bathgate House at the present time. Much inconvenience is still experienced on account of the late arrival of the train and coaches. It was close on ten o'clock before the coaches reached Ohinemutu on Saturday night. The delay was caused through a cow getting caught by the engine and derailing some of the carriages. On Thursday again the coaches were also late, and on both these occasions the mails were not sorted till nine o'clock on the following morning. There is some talk of a public meeting being called to discuss this late train grievance. At the Police Court, before Messrs. Maifroy and Wrigley, J.P.'s, Robert Henry Foley was charged, on the information of Nihi Watene, that he on the 23rd December last, at Rotorua, did feloniously steal, take, and ride away a chestnut horse of the value of £7, the property of Nihi Watene aforesaid. Mr. Humphreys appeared on behalf of the accused. The contending parties, the accused and informant, it appears are halfbrother and sister, and a family quarrel evidently has been existing between them for some time. The only evidence produced was that given by the informant, and Mrs. Foley, which failed to sustain the charge, and the case was dismissed. The, following is a copy of a petition which has recently been forwarded to Mr. Kelly, M.H.R., for transmission to the Minister of Lands :— " Rotorua, December 28th, 1893. To the Hon. the Minister of Land, Wellington. Sir, —We the undersigned beg to draw your attention to a matter which we teel must commend itself to your judgment of what is equitable. We wish you to kindly consider whether the Government may not allow to the old leaseholders a substantial iasements on the back, rents they have lately paid. As we deem that this is a moral obligation on the part of the Government, inasmuch as the railway (vide * New Zealand Thermal Springs District, 1883,' 2nd ed., p. 7),. which all looked to as the making of Rotorua has been in abeyance macy years after the Government gave us to understand it would be completed into Rotorua. This, of course, arose from the Tarawera eruption, which threw everything into disorder, and has materially checked the advance of the place, and hindered the Government from pushing on the railway and other improvements. Also, the difficulty the Government has experienced in obtaining the township from the natives, so that for the last four or five years it has been impossible •to hold any sales of land, and so the growth of the place has been stopped. This has put us old leaseholders into considerable straits, and so we would humbly beg the Government to consider some such proposal as this. That all the old leaseholders should pay up their rents in full to the date of the eruption, and after that reduce the rents 50 per cent, from that date to the present on the basis of the present upset prices to be credited to those who have tasen out fresh leases and to go towards future rents.— etc." [Here follow the names of the leaseholders.]—[ Own Correspondent.]

[BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.]

Rotorua, Tuesday. Although it is currently reported that the natives have decided to increase the toll fees at Tikitere, still in justice to them it should be pointed out that the increased rate has not yet been put in force, so there is hope that wiser counsels may prevail to prevent them killing the goose that lays the golden egg.