OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1898, Page 697

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

OPENING OF THE NEW BATH HOUSE AT TE AROHA. SUCH a large amount of interest is taken by New Zealanders and tourists in the Northern health resorts that the opening of a new bath at Te Arolia, on the Queen’s Birthday, was looked upon as a very important occasion. Special trains from Waikato and Paeroa brought? crowds of visitors, and by the time all—including about 500 school-children, Who took part in the procession—had reached the Domain, about 3,000 people were assembled. The Hon. A. J. Cadman, member for the district, was asked to open the new bath house, as he has been instrumental in getting assistance from Parliament in carrying on the work. Mr Vickerman, engineer to the Public Works Department, was supervisor of the plans, engineering" and building arrangements, etc. The bath house is most beautifully situated on high ground facing the lawn in the Domain. A vivid touch of colour ’mid the more sombre tones of the pine trees and shrubberies is riven by the bright scarlet roof of the ouilding. The latter is fashioned after the manner of a Swiss chalet, gabled at each end, and is one storey in height. It is 98 feet long and 28 feet wide, whilst an 8 feet corridor runs all along the structure. The corridor

permits access to the nineteen bathrooms. These are not unduly large, being 9 feet by 6 feet 6 inches. The baths are especially suited for invalids, four of them being sunk to the level of the floor; all are well enamelled and built of strong earthenware. A handsome centre-piece is over the front entrance, and the floors of the hall and the corridor are handsomely tiled. On each side of the entrance hall are situated waiting-rooms for ladies and for gentlemen, fitted up with (every convenience and comfort. A very important point in connection with the new baths, viz., the drainage, has received special attention,

and an exceptionally good supply of water has been arranged. But these particular baths are not the only improvements in the Domain. A hot-water swimming bath and two hot-water reservoirs have just been made, and these, with the new bath house, will cost about £3,500. When the work of laying pipes, etc., is completed, and a landscape gardener has improved the at present somewhat untidy grounds, the Te Aroha Domain should certainly be a thing of beauty, if not a joy for ever. Mr Cadman, in his opening speech, declared that after travelling round the colony he felt sure that Te Aroha

was the best bathing place in New Zealand, and that when railway communication was perfected between that place and the Thames a large influx of visitors would be the result. The Minister said that with care and judicious management invalids and pleasure-seekers could both enjoy the beauties and benefits of Te Aroha. It was a matter of history that Maoris, when wounded after their battles, repaired to Te Aroha and alleviated their sufferings in the muddy springs then existing. Europeans had seen and noted the effect of these waters and had now utilised them for themselves, both for pleasure and profit. THE U.S. CRUISER BALTIMORE. We give a picture of the United States protected cruiser Baltimore, which took a prominent part in the naval engagement at Manila. A cablegram received last week stated that the Baltimore had been injured through an explosion on board, but particulars were not given. The vessel is a steel cruiser of 4,600 tons with a speed of 20.6 knots, and complement 375 officers and men. Her guns are protected by 4J-in, and her decks by 4-in and 24-in armour. Her armament consists of four 8-in, six 6-in. four 6-pounder quick-firing, two 3poundcrs, two 1-pounders, and six muzzle-loading guns. H.M.S. ROYAL ARTHUR. H.M.s. Royal Arthur, the new flagship on the Australian station, is now in Auckland. She is a first-class twinscrew cruiser of 7,700 tons, and is a splendid type of the modern fighting ship. She was built at Portsmouth, being originally laid down as the. Centaur. Her sister ships are the Edgar, Hawke, George, Grafton, Crescent, Endymion, Gibraltar, and Theseus. She is 360 feet in length and 60 feet in beam, with a draught of 23 feet 9 inches. Her indicated horsepower is 12,000 with forced draught, and 7,500 with natural draught, giving a speed of 20 and 18 knots respectively. Hei - coal accommodation is equal to 10,000 knots at 10 knots an hour, or 2,800 at IS knots an hour. She carries no side armour, but her vitals are protected by a steel deck running from 5 inches to 1 inch in thickness. The guns’ crews are protected by steel shields. The armament consists of one 9-inch 22-ton gun. twelve 6-inch quick-firing guns, twelve 6-pounders, five 3-pounders, and seven machine guns, besides four Whitehead torpedo tubes. The Royal Arthur was formerly flag-ship on the Pacific Station. As will be seen from the above description, the new flagship is a marked improvement on the Orlando, both in size and equipment. The Commander of Her Majesty's Australian Squadron. Rear-Admiral Pearson, is on board. He is making a tour of the different harbours of the colony to inspect their defensive capabilities. The Admiral, who visited New Zealand in 1870 with the flying squadron, joined the Royal Navy in December, 1855, towards the close of the Russian war. In 1862 he became sub-lieutenant, in 1863 lieutenant, in 1873 commander, and in 1879 captain, being posted to that rank from the Royal Yacht Club. He was promoted to flag rank in 1895, and first hoisted his flag in the naval manoeuvres of 1896 on th e Warsprite cruiser as second in command, under Sir Edward Seymour. He was again second in command of the reserve squadron during the manoeuvres of last year, with his flag on the Sans Pareil. On November 1 he was appointed to his present post, and hoisted his flag at Portsmouth on the Royal Arthur, in which, in January of the present year, he relieved Admiral Bridge in Australian waters. HOKIANGA VIEWS. The pictures of Hokianga which appear in this issue conclude the series we have given in connection with the recent Maori disturbance in that part of the colony. The township of Kohukohu lies on the opposite side of the river to Rawene and higher up. As our pictures indicate, it is a pretty little place. A resident of the township, writing to the ‘Graphic’ of the late trouble, complains that this settlement and its people hardlv came in for a fair share of recognition. Nothing apparently has been said of the trouble they ' took to help the Rawene people; and that trouble was not so small. The residents, we understand, denied themselves in many ways to assist their neighbours, sending volunteers to Rawene; and Mr

Bindon and his engineer worked day -and night in their steamer and gave great assistance. The picture of the bugler asleep is one of those interesting incidents of the march which a photographer can take full advantage of. The poor lad was completely worn out by his rough experience, and during the halt when the Maori prisoners were being arrested he fell fast asleep on the ground. In this attitude the photographer found him and fired him.