THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1914. THE MARUIA SPRINGS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13410, 6 March 1914, Page 4

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1914. THE MARUIA SPRINGS.

The MurcMson County Council and the people of the district have every justification for the resentment they must feel at the dilatory policy pursued by the Department of Tourists and Health Resorts in regard to the Manila Hot Springs. For a long time the Council has been endeavouring to have an area including the springs, vested in it as a county reserve, in order that the control of the. resort might be pui upon a proper basis, and the curative properties of the springs made available to the large numbers who would visit Maruia if it, was anybody's business to inform *he outside world of the existence there of thermal springs of proved medicinal value, and to provide and maintain the necessary accommodation. In spite of the disadvantages of the present system of Tourist Department control, the popularity of the springs as a health resort is rapidly extending, but until the Department bestirs itself to place the springs under the management a national asset of such value demands, or they are vested in a responsible body, the bath and residential accommodation and means-of access are not likely to be adequately improved. The policy of the Tourist Department in the matter does not entourage ..the hope that it will lend active assistance to the development of the resort, and on other grounds the vesting of the springs in a local body is tho preferable course. The authority best qualified to undertake the responsibility is, of course, the Murchison County Council, and its endeavours to secure control of the springs are, we believe, supported by other local bodies throughout the province. The proposal has also been approved by tho Nelson Land Board, and there does not appear to be any reason why the realisation of the Council's desires should be longer deferred. In 1910' the Land Board determined the yearly occupation license of the area containing the springs, at tho Council's instance, with a.view to the land being vested in the Council. In. the following year the then Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. R. T. Sadd, visited the springs, and in a subsequent letter to the County Council lie expressed himself as being much impressed with the possibilities of the district as a tourist resort, and for those suffering from complaints likely to 'be benefited by the springs. "There is no doubt," ho added, "if suitable accommodation was provided that large numbers of people would visit this spot, and there should not be. much difficulty in raising £1000 to £1200 to erect the necessary buildings. The reserve could also be made a valuable property, and there would be no difficulty in getting a caretaker to take charge of the springs at a rental sufficient to pay for tho intereston the outlay in buildings. There is a fair area' of land suitable for pastoral purposes, and with the; expenditure of capital in bushfalling', . etc., the reserve wopld become a valuable run." Mr Sadd spoke with admiration of the scenery, and added that the Director of Tourist Resorts would visit the locality at an early date, and with a favourable .■ re-v port, he felt sure matters would be put on a satisfactory basis. Mr Sadd recommended the vesting .of a reserve of approximately. 4600 acre© in, the council. No action was taken by the Government, however, pending the visit to the district of the Director of Tourist Resorts. The visit of that official is still pending. On some eight different occasions between April, 1911, and the-present time, the Director has announced his intention to visit the springs for tho purpose of reporting to the Government, and on each occasioa tho Murchison people have been disappointed. The unfortunate disaster at Mount Cook is the reason given for tho cancellation of the Director's latest arrangement to look into tho question on the spot. It is surely time that decided steps were taken to put an end to this exasperating procrastination, or to induce the Government to dispenso with the formality of an inspection by this pre-occupied official and act on the recommendation of the Land Board that the desire of the Murchison Council be given offect to.