TOURIST PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 130, 3 June 1926, Page 6

TOURIST PROGRESS.

RECORD EXPENDITURE ON

IMPROVEMENTS.

WAITOMO EXTENSION.

FIRST-CLASS MODERN HOTEL.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, this day.

Waitomo Caves, distinctive among New Zealand's tourist attractions in providing the State with a credit balance on their administration, are being provided with further hostel accommodation. . The Minister in charge of the Tourist Department, the Hon. W. Nosworthy informed your correspondent that the active programme of developing this popular resort will be completed .by the erection of a new concrete accommodation house, having fireproof floors. He had obtained Cabinet authority for this expenditure to be immediately undertaken, and plans are ready. The new building will accommodate an additional 54 people, and will include a dining room for seating 150, and also all the usual accessories of a first-class hotel. Provision is also being made for a golf course and tennis courts, and, when the new building is ready, guests will be able to make an extended stay, and enjoy the fine drives which are available in Te Kuiti district. The Minister remarked that one of the most beautiful drives in New Zealand could be done in one day from Te Kuiti out to the coast at Marakipa, and by way of the historic Kawhia Harbour to the Waitomo Hostel. That Waitomo had been receiving the fullest attention possible, in view of other further urgent needs, the Minister made clear by reference to sums which have been authorised for expenditure on this scenic centre. Last year Cabinet authorised an expenditure of £25,000, and there was placed on the Estimates a preliminary £10,000 for the additional building. This year the plana were recast to provide further accommodation at a cost of £18,000. The site for the new building, including removal of an extensive hill of limestone rock, had cost £3600, and the lighting of the caves by electricity and providing fresh walks and new staircases in them, had involved an expenditure of another £3000. In regard to other tourist resorts, the Minister stated that during the past year or ao his Department had provided practically a new hostel at Waikaremoana, and had spent a large sum on roading from the power house at Lone Lake shore to Lake House. It had built a new hotel at Lake Te Anau, and had put Milford Track into good repair. He had now authorised expenditure of a considerable sum on electric lishtin? and heating of Mount Cook Hermitage, where accommodation had been largely increased. More had been done during the last year or so in improving tourist facilities and increasing accommodation than at any other period in the Department's history.