428 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



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 of 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, attend- 

 ance, 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 civilized 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 

 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, 

 Kotorua. A fall comparison of all the advantageous points belonging to 

 this place with other situations need not here be entered into. It is suffi- 

 cient 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 in- 

 ference 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* 



