MOUNT EGMONT HOT SPRINGS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3166, 5 April 1871, Page 2

MOUNT EGMONT HOT SPRINGS.

A Taranaki paper furbishes the following : — Each and every proviuce has something in it to amuse and attract the eye of a sti'anger — either cliffy rocks, woods and waters, or majestic mountain scenery, and Taranaki is not the least in these respects. She has the lofty Mount Egmont, unequalled in the southern hemisphere, for its beauty, and at its base the fine waterfall — named after Dillon Bell, Esq., Bell's Falls— where the Hangatahau River runs in a narrow outlet of about six feet broad, and falls more than a hundred feet in one unbroken sheet, while the cliffs on each side of it rise almost perpendicular from three to four hundred feet, clothed with the richest verdure, and many varieties of beautiful flowering shrubs ; the whole scenery around being of the wildest form. Within a short distance of the falls, are the hot springs ; very little is known of their medicinal qualities, and but few of our population are aware of their existence. There is nothing about them to arrest the eye of the pleasure seeker on his way to the mountain or to the falls, but vice versa rather to avoid, for in going near one is very apt to get over the knees in water, and dirty water too, as all around the spriugs is a mass of thick, yellow- looking liquid. The springs are ten to fourteen in number, running north, from under a cliff of some 1 50 to 900 feet in height, Mid discharge their waters into a cold stream running southward. This stream passes within five or six yards from the rise of the springs, and who knows what healing virtues they may contain as their waters have never been properly analysed. Although thousauda of people have looked at and admired our beautiful picturesque mountain and fine scenery around, yet strange to say that although within an easy day's ride from town and back, little or no attempt at getting even a bridle trackhaa been made, beyond a rough half formed path made by the straggling plant collectors which is hard to find and easy to lose, especially in thick, cloudy weather. A good bridle track and two half-way houses put up at suitable places, and two or three acres of scrub cleared and grassed for horses keep for the visitors, could be all done for the small sum of £80 to £100, which would be well spent money for the pleasure alone, not only of our own population, but for those from other parts visiting us. Wealth to the province and a blessing to mankind would result, should the springs contain healing virtues.