HANMES PLAINS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4575, 21 February 1893, Page 3

HANMES PLAINS.

• ' THE SANATORIUM OF CANTERBURY. [by ottb special bbpobtbb.] Mr Camille Malfroy, engineer in charge Of the Thermal Springs district at Rotorua, is now paying a brief holiday visit to the Hanmer Plains, and it is whispered that he will probably report as to certain improvements contemplated in connection with the hot springs there. Even, however, if no improvements be effected there for some time to come, enough has been done by the Government and by private enterprise since last winter to vastly enhance the attractiveness of the Plains as a resort for both invalids and holidaymakers. THR BATHS. As the prinoipal attraction of the Hanmer Plains consists in its hoi springs, it may be as well, in detailing the improvements in question, to speak first of those which have been made at the bath?. One of the most notable of these is a waitingroom, situated at the western end of the nearer of the two bath-houses. This is a very great boon, especially to invalid yiflitore, who, until its erection, had to sit in the verandahs on the south side of the houses, exposed to the sou-- wester, if one happened to be blowing. Now they have a comfortable room 22ft by 19ft, with stained and varnished walls and ceiling, well lighted, with linoleum on the floor, furnished with chairs and lounge upholstered in buffalo leather, with cushioned wicker arm-chairs for invalids, and with a table covered with illustrated papers and some of the more interesting productions of the New Zealand Government printing press. Here it may be remarked that donations of books, periodicals and papers for this table will be thankfully received by Mr Rogers, the custodian of the establishment. The waiting-room is warmed, in winter, by a small gas stove ; the gas is of nature's making, being obtained from one of the adjacent springa. Two additional baths, lined with white tiles, have been constructed in the new bath-house, making the total number of baths in the establishment fourteen, five of which are reserved for ladies. Very great improvements have been made to the swimming pool, which is now an oval, 33ft long and 28ft wide, concrete lined to a depth of six feet, and furnished with a wooden grating bottom. It now receives the surplus water from the two main tanks, in ' addition to that from the springs which rise within it, and the temperature of its waters can be raised to 100 degrees. One of the large tanks, that known as No. ,8, has been enlarged, its level having been raised bo as to provide more storage for water. By this means an additional five thousand gallons of hot water per diem is, available for the baths. Mr Rogers' house has been enlarged, by the erection of two rooms, one an office for public business. He is thus enabled to carry on his duties much more conveniently than of yore, which is just as it should be, for a man who is so considerate of the comfort and convenience of the public as Mr Rogers is well deserves some attention being paid to his own. ' . PLANTATIONS. / The grounds around the "baths have certainly not been neglected of late. About sixty acres of the reserve whereon the springa are situated, are now fenced in and cultivated. A crop of oats has been taken off the part more recently enolosed, preparatory to its being laid down in grass as a recreation ground. No fewer than fifty new flower-beds have been formed and planted in the five acres which immediately adjoin the bath-houses. There are now ninety flower-beds in the grounds, and the brilliant an 4 varied display they make in the season is strong testimony both to the capability of the soil for flower-growing, and to the care bestowed upon them. A lawn tenniß ground, in course of formation at the back of the swimming pool, tells of the attention paid to providing means of recreation for visitors. A large amount of tree-planting has been done around the establishment. A plantation, eleven chains in length, has been formed on the east side of the grounds, along the main road from Culverden. On the opposite side of this road a plantation, seventeen chains long and a chain and a third in width, has been laid down. These two, in a little while, will afford ample protection from the east wind, and the visitor will have the pleasure of driving through an avenue of oaks, spruces, Wellingtonias, and other trees. On the reserve in front of the entrance to the ground there has been formed a triangular plantation of an acre and a half in extent. Alongside the road leading from the springs in a westerly direction — to Jack's Pass, four thousand young wees have been planted in a belt, eighteen chains long and a chain in width. About eight chains more of this plantation have still to be done. An orchard, one-third of an acre in extent, has been planted on the western side of the grounds, and the trees are doing exceedingly well. EOAD AND BAIL. New roads have been formed from the springs to Mr Idle's hotel at Jollies Pass, and Mr Lahmert'a boerding - house at Jack's Pass. That to Jollies Pass is in splendid order. On the other there are a few ruts and inequalities, which it would be well for the powers that be to have filled up as aoon as possible. While speaking of roads, it may be said that those between Culverden and the Plains might very well be improved in places. A piece of road about two miles long, which was made by the "unemployed," half-a-dozen miles from Culverden, ib said to be practically useless, owing to the immense size of the lumps of stone, mis-called metal, which have been placed upon it. In justice to the "unemployed," however, it muat te Baid that they made an exceedingly good job of other roads in the district. What is ' wanted is a permanent gang of road men ! at work all the year round, to keep • the road in good order. It ib 1 said that access to the Hanmer Plaint-. i from the north could be greatly improved at very little coßt* There is a very good i road from Blenheim southward to MtoleB- ; worth, and the expenditure of ft few

hundred pounds on the road from Molesworth to the plains would open up athrough route which would enable tourists to " do" the "West Coast, Nelson, Blenheim and the hot springs without having to "double back," and would also enable them to go direct to the plainß from the North Island without having to first go to Lyttelton. Conversely, visitors from Christchurch could " do" the northern districts and the West Coast without having to quit terra firma. The concession made by the Eailway Commissioners, by granting firstclass return tickets (inclusive of coach fare) from Chris* church and stations as far north as Kaiapoi, available for two months, for 30s, hns h. j l(..t:d much to popularise the ■ Hanmer Plains as a holiday resort, but they wouid he still farther popularised if tickets at j-roportionately reduced rates could be obtained at Ofcago stations. A •CHDTBCH. The Rev Mr Campbell, Presbyterian minister at Waiau, has erected, at his own expense, f% neat, little church close to the baths. Ib is capable of seating 100 persons, is cxi-ue.jingly well fitted up, and posßessee a g= od harmonium and a large supply of hy mo books for the use of wor--flhipperß. A rgular service is held there monthly, but special services are held at any other r.inv3 when opportunity offers. - Last Sundaj Afternoon the Rev Mr Grants of Leestoo, wmo was on a visit .to the springs, conducted a short serviceconsisting. chiefly of B.ftt:r<-<J mufiic. About a score of ' visitors and others formed the congregation. Ayouoti lady visitor, Mieß Qabbie, played tho accompaniments to the singing, and sang a tamed solo very weh]. . A collection, wlii.-a realised JBI 2s 9d — a much larger average per head than at many larger churches— was made In aid of the suiferars by tne Queensland floods. ACCOMMODATION. The accommodation for visitors to the Hanmer Plains has been considerably improved of late. Mr Idle, of the Jollie'a Pass Hotel, part of which is a new'structure, has effected great improvements tothe grounds surrounding his house, where the green sward haß been put into excellent order, and a tennis lawn laid down In the paddock opposite the hotel an orchard of 120 treeß haß been planted,' and no leaa than four acreß laid out as a vegetable garden. Other minor improvements to the premises have also been effected. Mr Lahmerb has built Borne additional rooms to his boarding-house at Jack's Pass, and has laid down a tennis court. NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. There are, ib must be admitted, some improvements which might be made to- ' the establishment so well managed by Mr Rogers. The swimming pool, for instance, might be roofed over, so as to protect the bathers from rain, wind and heat, and & separate pool for the use of ladies would be very acceptable. A weighing machine; for ascertaining the weight of invalids, and thus testing the changes in their general health, is also undoubtedly required at the baths. INCREASING POPULABITY. That the Hanmer Plains hot springs are increasing in popularity is shown by the fact that the number of baths taken last month, 1487, was greater than during' any other month since the foundation of the - establishment. From the beginning <of the present season, 5980 baths were i taken, and the fees received amounted to £191 14s 4d. There are Bigns that settlement iB progressing in the district. Four rural sections, of an aggregate area,of 1152 acres, have been taken up, on a forty-two years' lease, in the vicinity of the springß, and several others have been applied for. Though the Hanmer Plains are evidently increasing in popularity as a health resort, it may be doubted whether the public of Canterbury, or of New Zealand, yet fully realise their advantages. The virtues of the hot springs— and very potent those virfcueß have proved in many cases of rheumatism, sciatica, neuralgia and certain disorders arising from acidity — are supplemented by salubrious air, as pure and healthgiving as any in the world. , The . Plains Jie 1300 ft above sea level, and their atmosphere is that of the mountains, dry, bracing and healthful. Even the nor'wester loses much of its hot, oppressive virulence on the Hanmer Plains; and in winter the damps which afflict the lowlying country are, it is said, unknown. The late spring, summer and early autumn are, oi course, the favourite seasons with those who visit the hot springs for the sake of holiday-making, but there is very fine weather there at other seasons of the year. The residents of the Hanmer Plains are looking forward to enjoyable weather for another couple of monthß at least. To the advantages above enumerated must be added that of easy access. The man who leaves Christchurch in the morning en route for the Plains will reach the end of his journey in time for his six o'clock dinner or tea. The coach ride from the hotel at Culverden, where, by-the-bye, a capital luncheon may be obtained, is through a country not devoid of features of interest or the attractions of scenery, and he who is fortunate enough to obtain a box-seat will find the driver, Fred Anstiss, an entertaining companion, obliging, genial, in a way of his own, shrewd and altogether diverting. When all the advantages of the Hanmer Plainß as a holiday and health resort are taken into account, it is no wonder that the locality is growing in popularity. The wonder is ' that it is not more popular than it is.