TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 321, 7 October 1908, Page 6

TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

INTERESTING FIGURES. Tlie annual report of this Tourist and Health Resorts Department shows there was a decrease of 1082 visitors from oversea, as compared with tlife previous ybar, which, ow: iiig to the Cliristchurch Exhibition, was an abriorinal one in this respect. As compared with tho 190S-6 year, the figures for last year show an increase of 1460; Tho majority of. the visitors came from Australia. The value of tlie year's tourist trafßc to tho Dominion is estimated at £480,000. At the agencies in Sydney and Melbourne the numbers of persons who called for information were 16,73S and 11,982 respectively; An agency has been opened at Vancouver. It was hoped to obtain a larjje number of settlers of. good class from India Arrangements had been made with tho Imperial Governrrient to givo time-expired officers arid men the option of a free pissage to New Zealand in lieu of. their passages back to Great Britain; Many of theso peoplo it was pointed out retired on comfortable pensions. ' The chief improvements contemplated this year aro new accommodation houses at caves and To Ptiiaj rear Gisborrie. It is also proposed to erect a largo buildiiig in. stbnO riear Mount Cook, iii the Soiitliern Aips. The tiinfe is nbt very far distant when it will be found advisable to have electrio trains . bbtween Rotorua, Ohinemutu, and Whakarewarewa. It is stated that it will be possible this year to greatly, reduce the vote, required from the Pubic Works Fund for improvements in connection with tlia tourist resorts. ' '