A VISIT TO THE PURIRI MINERAL WATERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XI, Issue 3184, 3 December 1878, Page 3

A VISIT TO THE PURIRI MINERAL WATERS.

It is not generally known that wo have at Puriri llie commencement of an industry which bids fair to malco this district as celebrated 'as the famous wators of Kissengen or Baden, besides opening up one more export from the port of .Thames. The . natural mineral springs at Puriri havo been known to some who have occasionally taken advantage of their curative properies, but it was reserved for the owner, Mr Kelly, who has recently relumed t.o the Thames after a long residence in Oorojnnndol, to turn the springs to advantage, and to produce therefrom a cool and invigorating beverage, as well as an unfailing specific against diseases of the digestive organs, gout, rheumatism, &c. It must not be supposed that these qualities are of recent discovery, becauso the water has been used as a specific by the Maoris for generations, and Europeans who have visited and tested jlio springs speak most gratefully of its medicinal qualities. The isolated position of the spring has prevented these facts from being brought prominently beforo the public, because the moans of access has until lately been very difficult and unreliable.- The County authorities have, however, within the past twelvementh laid off an excellent road, which simplifies access, because it passes within a stone's throw of the famous effervescing springs. Taking advantage of this, and in view of the wonderful qualities of the springs, Messrs Kelly and Fraser havo started to bottlo the waters and render them marketable at once, To accomplish this they have erected extensive bottling, Berating, packing, and other works. The water is conveyed into the building by means of a syphon, which is inserted in the centre of the springs and covered with a flannel bag, through which the water is filtered and passes into the pipe pure and sparkling. The pipe leads direct to the crating machine in the the building, where an employe is engaged bottling off the waters, only using a small quantity of gas, in consequence of the large amount of bicarbonate of soda which the water contains naturally. Another syphon conveys the water into the premises for bottling direct into pints in its pure state, the faculty agreeing in recommending its use in some cases without One of the greatest difficulties the bottlers have to contend with is the liability to burst the bottles whilst filling, but when care' fully filled and corked the water can be kept still for any length of time without danger of explosion. Another difficulty the owners havo to contend with is the distance from town along a rough road which everything requisite has to be conveyed. It is in contemplation to ask the assistance of the County towards making a road and landing-place to the Thames river, which is only about half-a mile distant from the spring, by means of which expensive cartage could be avoided. At present even the timber for the pack-ing-cases has to be carted in from the

Sliortland saw-mills, but as it is cut into tho necessary lengths there, it is readily put together by the packer on the premisos. The proprietors aro consider' ing tlio advisability of erecting a small gasometer over the springs in order to charge tho waters with the necessary gas for a?,ration, and so dispense with the manufacture of the gas on the premises. As tho water becomes more generally known, however, it will be preferred in its natural condition, which is strongly alkaline, without being charged with carbonic acid. In the latter state it will bo found most saleable, because most palatable, cool, effervescing, and invigorating. As a proof of its wonderful properties, bottled just as it flows pure and unadulterated from nature's springs, with all its sparkling freshness, we quote tho following analysis bv Dr. Hector, and a number of testimonials from physicians of standing Extract from report by Dr Hector, Wellington. You will observe from the attached table of composition that by far the larger proportion of solid matter consists of bi-carbonate of soda, giving to the water a strong caustic re-action. It therefore belongs to the interesting group of mineral waters known as the Alkaline, to which many of the Spas on the Continent of Europe belong, such as Vichy in France and Fachingen in Nassau, which were resorted to for the cure of di&aases of the digestive organs, and especially for diseases of the kidney and bladder, and for removing constitutional tendency to gout.

Analysis by Mr Skey, "Wellington. Solid constituents in grains per gallon: Soda, 199'01; potash, 2*587; lime, 11*088 ; magnesia, B'ooß ; iron, traces; silicic acid, 2'772; sulphuric acid, 2'903; carbonic acid, 300'438; phosphoric acid, traces; chlorine, 13*313; iodine, traces. These elements are probably combined in the following manners— Bkarbonate o[ soda ... 452*393 ditto of lime ... 28*506 ditto of magnesia 25*625 Chloride of sodium 21'938 Sulphate of potash 4*938 ditto of soda ... 0*940 Silica 2*772 lodide of magnesium ... Traces Phosphate of soda ... Traces 537*112 Thames, September 24th, 1878, Having often visited the Puriri Springs, and also having practically tested the water in a medical point of view, I have great pleasure in testifying to its general excellence. As" a pleasant, agreeable, and invigorating beverage, it is unsurpassed, especially in the summer months. As a therapeutic agent, considering the large per centage of carbonic acid, and from the close resemblance in its solid contents with many of the mineral waters of Europe—notably those of Kissengen in Bavaria, of Fachingen in Nassau, and "Vichy in Prance (as testified by analysis), we may confidently expect the Puriri Water to be equally useful in all cases in which similar European waters would be prescribed; as a stimulating alterative on the digestive organs, ill liver and abdominal diseases, in diabetes, and in gouty, rheumatic, and calculus affection?.

In sickness I have found it of great value, more especially in that of pregnancy.

In sea sickness I should expect it to be of equal service. It is water whioh I would recommend frequently, and that from a well founded belief in its excellency. (.Signed) MARTIN fl. PAYNE, JF.C.S,, L.8.C.P., M.B.C.S. Auckland, October 17th, 1878. 1 have examined a sample of water furnished to me by Messrs Kelly and Fraser, obtained from the Puriri Spring;

I find it strongly alkaline, and as an antacid would be useful in dyspepsia, gout, and rheumatism. When charged with carbonic acid it forms an agreeable effervescing drink, which would be very advantageous to patients requiring alkaline treatment. The appended analysis by Mr Skey is most full aud complete, I have personally given the water a trial, and believe it will prove valuable in cases] such as those above-mentioned. (Signed) CHARLES F. CtOLDSBfiO, B.C.P.

Thames, October Ist, 1878. In reply to your request for an opinion of the Puriri Water, I am happy to say that it promises to be a most useful addition to the means of cure at the commatid of persons affected by gout in its various forms, Moreover, the water is extremely palatable, and may be advantageously employed as a beverage by all who are fond of a clear and sparkling drink. Its chemical constitution strongly resembles the celebrated waters of Vichy.. (Mgned) JAMBS KILQOUR, M.D. Auckland, 14th October, 1878. If the Puriri Water is taken in a methodica manner, with due regard to diet, exercise, &c.l it .can be best complied in value totheccle brated miueral waters of Kissengcn in Bavaria, which are beneficially used in most cases of diseases of the digestive organs. 2G rated, it is a refreshing and cooling drink, although, in my opinion, preferable in its natural state for medical purposes, (Signed) B, SCHWAEZBA.CH, M.D.