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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 60

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The purpose of this paper is to endeavour to draw attention to what may be done by the initiation, on a grand scale, of a combined sanatorium and hotel for tourists in the Rotorua district, comprising, also, the management of detached residences and boarding establishments suitable to the tastes of all invalids and travellers.

It is a subject which has engaged the writer's attention during the last five or six years. In that period he has been more or less engaged in the work rendering the Lake Country directly accessible to Auckland, and he has had many opportunities of studying the wondrous sources of health and profit placed ready to our hands by Nature, and of the operations necessary for their utilization by Art.

It is not the purpose of this paper to enter into arguments for or against any of the possible methods for effecting this end, but to sketch an outline of the particular scheme which the writer believes would realize to the utmost the results which ought to follow the systematic adaptation of the gifts of Nature which are here placed within our reach.

Both the hydropathic and tourist branches of the establishment should be on a magnificent scale as regards amount and variety of accommodation, so as to be suitable for all tastes or requirements. The poorest invalid or most frugal pleasure-seeker would find appropriate accommodation, attendance, and welcome; and, at the same time, luxury and refinement in the use of the waters and enjoyment of residence would be within the call of all who so desired. The natural features of the locality are almost unique, and the design and scope of the undertaking should be worthy of them. Therefore, nothing less than the scale of a first-class Continental Spa should be aimed at, and the result should be worthy of being advertised in the language of every civilised country. The attractions can well be made irresistible to the thousands who now yearly crowd the famous spas and watering-places of the old world. A very small share of these would affect page 4 most favourably, and at once, the Auckland Provincial District; but it would not long continue to be merely a small share, for soon the yearly influx of visitors would be a matter of great importance to the Colony at large.

The locality which the writer believes is most eminently suitable as a site for this great establishment is Whakarewarewa, near Ohinemutu, Rotorua.

A full comparison of all the advantageous points belonging to this place with other situations need not here be entered into. It is sufficient to say that if any other place can be shown to be better, let such be selected. The present object is to sketch the scheme, and fill in a few details where necessary. These will be nothing more than are essential to success, and being adapted to Whakarewarewa, and possible there, the inference is, that that place possesses all the features necessary.

The leading features, then, which, in the writer's opinion, must be found in any site fit for this scheme are as follow:—
1.A great variety and abundance of thermal springs, varying from almost pure hot and boiling water, to the strongest mineral and medicinal wells, hot and tepid.
2.A variety of jets of dry sulphurous vapour, for use in obtaining vapour baths, or for increasing the strength of sulphurous waters, will probably be an important feature, and prove of great value in the hands of a skilful medical superintendent.
3.All springs and waters for use ought to be at a good elevation above drainage level, sufficient to allow of the waters being led by gravitation to any point suitable for the bath buildings, and used as plunge, douche, shower, or swimming baths, and to facilitate them being mixed, cooled, increased or reduced in strength as may be found advisable.
4.It is necessary to have an abundance of clear cold water, also at an elevation sufficient to command by gravitation all the bathing places. A good command of water power page 5 is also of great value, and an important feature in this scheme.
5.The situation must be easily accessible, beautiful and diversified in landscape. It must afford superior sites for all sorts of residences, some close to the thermal waters, and others as far from these as will ensure the purest air at all times. The soil ought to be good, and fit for the formation of extensive orchards, gardens, and pleasure grounds. All the most wonderful features of the Lake Country must be within easy distance.
6.The situation must be near to, and within easy reach of, agricultural and pastoral supplies of all kinds. The consumption of these would be very large, and such a thing as scarcity of any one article—as sometimes occurs now in that country—must not be possible in an establishment like this.

Whakarewarewa presents all these points in a high degree of excellence, and in some is unapproached by any other place. It is situated two and a-half miles southward of Ohinemutu. The new township and suburbs of Rotorua extend within a few hundred yards of it. The thermal and medicinal springs extend from Ture Kore (the famous Spout Bath) to nearly the Taupo Road, about three-quarters of a mile along the south-east bank of the Puarenga, at elevations from the level of, to say twenty feet above, the stream. This river—the name of which, Puarenga, means Lily Flower—is a considerable volume of water, forming cascades, rapids, and deep pools, on a rocky bod. There is probably more than one hundred horse-power available, and easily obtained by placing wheels in picturesque positions, for the purposes to be hereafter noted.

The situation cannot be surpassed in the Lake District for beauty. The hills, part of the range enclosing the Rotorua Basin, and through which the Puarenga has cut a narrow gorge, give shelter on the south-west and south, leaving the aspect open to the north-east, north, and north-west. On the north bank of the river are a few low hills, from which extends an almost level plain page 6 to the Lake; on this plain is situated the new township of Rotorua, and that part of it, between the suburbs and the Puarenga, would form an admirable position for the hothouses, and portions of the recreation grounds.

On a plateau-looking depression in the hills to the southwards, elevated about 250 feet above the plain, and commanding a most magnificent view of the whole basin of Rotorua, is an admirable site for the main sanatorium buildings and hotel residences, with an atmosphere ever clear, and free from the vapours inseparable from the vicinity of medicinal springs. This plateau, and adjacent bills, with the slopes to the level of the plain, and extending between the Taupo and Wairoa roads, would form the area on which the art of the landscape gardener would be chiefly employed. It is now quite open and fern covered, but exhibits a combination of features favourable to landscape improvement, which would be difficult to find surpassed.

Towards the north-east of the general situation are two picturesque headlands extending into the lake, called Owhata and Owhatiura, whereon could be located a number of detached villas in variety of design, giving accommodation for the large number of visitors, who, desiring to remain a few weeks or months, would prefer to live close to the Lake. Near Obinemutu, there are two other beautiful headlands called Koutu and Kawaha, and on all these places private enterprise would soon furnish abundance of detached accommodation, the initiation or nucleus of which is only required to be provided by the sanatorium.

To the eastward of Whakarewarewa is the road to the great attraction to tourists, Rotomahana, and to the west, the road to Taupo. The soil on the hills, and the slopes at their base, is all that can be desired; while that of the plain, though light and sandy, is all the more suitable for the higher horticultural operations invited by the abundance of natural heat flowing to waste; and apropos, the writer's attention has been drawn to an account in the journal of the Society of Arts, of date 27th June, 1884, of the utilization of a hot spring, at the Baths of Acqui, in a hothouse, by means of which semi-tropical vegetables were ripened in spring season. This application of the natural heat of page 7 the Lake District has long been a favourite idea with many besides the writer. Its extent of adaptability is almost unbounded where a natural fall of hot water exists, or where it can be economically raised, and circulated by water power.

The waste water at Whakarewarewa, at a moderate computation of its volume, and an average of 700 units of heat available from every gallon, would furnish per diem heat equal to that derived from the combustion of six tons of coal in the same time.

The facility with which refrigerating operations can now be carried on, and the abundance of water power in the Puarenga, suggests a further application of the forcing system in horticulture—viz., the possibility of obtaining a perfect winter crop of tropical fruits, by resting the plants during the summer by means of an artificial winter. This would be easily produced in any degree of severity by circulating cold air under the glass, and iced water in the ground pipes.

The general character of the Whakarewarewa waters are pretty well known; anyhow, a detail description of them here would be superfluous. It may suffice to say that of all places in the district, they have been most resorted to by invalids for residence at the baths, and numbers of very wonderful cures have been effected. It would be easy to compile a large and authenticated list of these, extending over the last seven or eight years.

The supply of agricultural and pastoral produce will be abundant as soon as wanted. It is not so now however, but the necessary and indispensable prelude to this establishment is the completion of railway communication between Auckland and Rotorua. That means the settlement of many thousands of acres of admirable agricultural land, with a population of small farmers, who, with steady markets at both ends of the lino of railway, will form a prosperous community.

We may now proceed to sketch the outline of the several features forming the scheme in contemplation, with only such details as are necessary to explain the working and purposes of some of them.