THE HOT SPRING DISTRICT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 4240, 15 January 1883, Page 2

THE HOT SPRING DISTRICT.

TO THE EDITOR. My Deah Sir, — I should indeed be ungrateful if I allowed the remarks of "A Visitor" to this district, which appeared in your columns of the 23rd ult. (paper just received), to reinaiu unanswered. I came here- a few months back a mere wreck, sinking under a most painful disease, and my case declared to be medically an utterly hopeless one, my span of life reduced to a few short months at the moßt. I am now not only free from all pain, but also almost free from the disease that was killing me, and rejoicing in the certainty that, though 1 dare not immediately leave the district without duffering a relapse, yet that a few mbntlis -will see me radically cured. Six months ago, to me life was not worth Hying ; now, [thanks to the springs and mud holes so contemptuously alluded to by " A Visitor," I am strong, hearty, and seem co have renewed my youth. And mine is no isolated case. Of the many wonderful cures I have seen and heard of here 1 will quote but one more, viz., that of a gentleman from Australia, who was staying at Whakarewarewa at the same time that I was : A young man completely paralyzed from the hips downwards, the result of rhnmatic fever. Carried in a sling cot from his residence to the steamer, and throughout his journey, when not in his berth. He^ arrived in this district in November, 1881, took a whare at Whakarewarewa, and was carried down to the Ture-kore bath three or four t : mes a day. At the end of two months he could get about on crutches, soon these wore laid aside, ard on the 31st March, 1882, he returned home completely cured.

Cases like these prove that even if the district consisted of "nothing but hot springs and mud holes," as the " visitor" asserts, yet that to sufferers who have exhausted the pharmacopoeia without finding relief, it would still be a most blessed haven of rest. But do his words correctly desc ibe the Lake Country ? Hochstetter says — " All those who have witnessed with their own eyes the wonders of nature displayed here, have been transported with amazement and delight," and he predicts ■a time when .thousands from all parts " will flock to where nature not .only exhibits such remarkable phenomena in tbe joveließt of districts, with the best and "most genial of climates, but has also created with these attractions such an extraordinary number of healing springs." Only hot springs and mud holes ! \Vhy the Lake District proper, confining it to its narrowest limits, and exclusive of the Taupo portion of it, is about forty miles long by twenty in breadth. Within this area you find the beautiful expanse of Kotorua with its island gem Mokoia ; the gorgeous scenery of Rotoiti, Tarawera, and Tikitapu ; the lovely little lakes Uotoma, Rotoehu, Okarita, and Okarewa. Turn where you will the most varied and exquisite combinations of shape and color, of hill and fell, forest and glade, sky and water, that mind of poet could conceive, or hand of artist delineate. The magic wonders of Rotomahana and its terraces. The awful grandeur of Whakarewarewa and Tikitere, Paeroa, and Orakei-korako. Nature in its most beautiful, most wonderful, and most awe inspiring aspects every-

where ; the mud holes scattered in groups, often miles apart, over the district.

The visitor says that "the only house in the new township is that of the medical man, a nephew of Judge Fenton, who receives £400 a-year -from a grateful country for doing nothing." The new township is about half a mile from Ohiremutu, the old Maori settlement, adjacent to which all the hotels, stores, offices, and residences are situated, forming together a large village. This latter being the established business site, it is scarcely to be expected that people who have built on it will remove to a new situation until thej r see good reason for doing so. However, on the new township there are, besides the doctor's hoube, the Government bath establishment, the Courthouse, and the house just completed i!o • the sergeant of police. Timber is also on tie ground for the erection of a large hotel or boarding-house, but the sudden death of Mr. Wilkie, the lessee of the allotment, has stayed building proceedings. The doctor is not a nephew of Judge Fenton. He receives £400 per annum, it is true, but certainly not for doing nothing. The springs are called by Hochstetter " these valuable medicinal springs, which are the grandest in the world." But it must not be forgotten that they are as varied in their chemical constituents, and in the combination of these — and therefore in their therapeutic value — aa they are numerous. A spring that would be remedial in one disease might prove most detrimental in another. Hitherto their employment had been quite empirical, and they had been used ia a haphazard way, invalids trying first one spring and then another until, perhaps, one might be found to suit the particular case of the sufferer. This course often ended in failure, sometimes resulted in increased illnes3, always occasioned great loss of time, and therefore of money. A little consideration will show that for a. patient to use strong medicinal waters at haphazard is about as sensible, and as safe as for him to rush into a chemist's shop, seize the first bottle that comes to hand and drain it off, trusting in Providence for the results. There was but one way to test the medicinal value of each spring ; viz., to study them all scientifically. This coald be done only by a skilled medical man, and therefore the Government appointed Dr. Lewis to examine the constituents of the waters, to carefully rove every case under treatment, and, from the experience thus ga : ned, to proscribe the exact bath required for each invalid coining under his influence. The valuable report published by Dr. Lewis in the Australasian Medical Gazette for October last (No. 13), will prove that this part of his duty has been so far ably performed. Roturoa is also the principal Maori district of the Colony ; Dr. Lewis, among his other duties, attends all Maori patients gratuitously, and supplies them with medicine. "The Government baths," says the visitor, "are covered with a shed, and kept by an eily keeper, who charges Gd. a dip, or 4s. a dozen." The bath-house is an extensive building, containing a broad and lofty vestibule, convenient passages, gentlemen's and ladies' waiting-rooms, consulting room, and some twenty or thirty separate bath rooms, each with mat, pegs, glass, brush, &c, and chair ; water let in at any temperature required ; also, cold shower bath. At end" of passage enclosed closets and other convienenices. Towels are suppled to bathers. The custodian of the baths is Mr. Kobert Hughes, a gentleman well-known in Now Plymouth. How far the offensive term " oily keeper" is applicable I leave you and your minacious readers to judge. The charge»is certainly 6d. a single bath, or 4s. a dozen, and I conpider this very reasonable. " The hotel aecommodatiqn is poor, and the charges excessive," in the opinion of "a visitor." Thete are three hotels { viz., — The. Palace, the largest and, I think, the most comfortable, belonging to Mr. W. Kelly, late M.H.K. for Taiminga. This contains2s bedrooms, private sitting rooms, ladies' sitting-room, gentlemen's sittingroom, commercial room, largo dining-rooms, and other accommodation. Terms, Ba. to 10s. per.diem, or 12s. 6d. if private sitting room required. Per week, £3 3fe., and for longer terms as-Jior arraugoinent. 2. Tbe "Rotomu," Mrs. Morrison's, very comfortable j U bedrooms j weH supplied.

with private and other sitting-rooms, &c Terms, Bs. to 10s. per diem; £3 per week; reductions for longer periods. 3. The "Lake House," Mr. J. Wilson, 12s. Gd. per diem (vide advertisements). The tables ari3 as a rule well supplied, and two of the hotels have large gardens belonging to them, well stocked with vegetables. Medicinal baths are attached to each hotel. There is also a very comfortable hotel at Wai'oa— the "Rotomahnna,"' kept by Mr. Mcßae; 11 bedrooms, and other accommodation in proportion. Charges about the same as at " Palace" and "Rotorua." When it is considered that Ohinemutu is 43 miles from Tauranga, it^ port of supply, and that the road is a very rough and hilly one. the cartage being consequently high (a penny a pound), t do not think that these charges can be called excessive. Invalids going to Whakarewarowa (two miles distant) can get a whare at ss. a week each, finding their own provisions, cooking, &c. At Tikitere, 11 miles from Ohinemutu, the charges arc — Room in whare and use of uaths, 255. a week, ono person, a reduction being made for two or more in a party. This includes cooking and attendance, but not provisions. I hope you will excuse the length of this letter, but I thought it a duty to remove any false impressions that might be created by the statements of this extraordinarilyconstituted " Visitor." — I am, &c, C. D. WuiTCOMBB. Ohinemutu, January 2, 1883.