FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22032, 12 February 1935, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ROTORUA'S POTENTIALITIES CONSTITUTION -OF TOWNSHIP The potentialities of Rotorua as a health and tourist resort were recognised half a century ago, when concern was expressed at the lack of a progressive policy regarding the establishment of a township. "It is hoped that within a few weeks the vexatious difficulty that lias arisen in reference to the township leases at Rotorua will be overcome," stated the Nkw Zealand HkraLd of February l-i 1885. "The present Ministry is more likely to be accessible to somo reasonable arrangement than the last. Hr. Rolleston was the manager of the whole township scheme. He was enthusiastic about it, and thought lie had erected his enduring monument at Rotorua. "The Thermal Springs District Act was passed in 18S1, and in March, leoA the leases of a number of township sections were put up for sale in Auckland. The sale was extensively advertised »y a Government pamphlet, stating a number of things which the Government was to do in order to constitute the township. These formed what may. » e called 'conditions of sale.' Of these, several have not even been commencec to be carried out. , "For instance, it was stated that tne laying-out of the recreation reserve, the planting of street avenues and otn improvements of a similar nature, we to be begun immediately. Ihis wor has still to be commenced. I hen tner was a statement that 'experiments are being made -for the supply of artes water for the use of the town, a > failing that, n gravitation scheme or water supplv will be introduced. • two years ago a well was sunk, hut nothing but hot water and scor. - mud was encountered. Nothing ' • has been donp in the way of a g« tation scheme, and this niodel ' which was to be the resort of in has not even the first requisite —water."