THE WAITOMO CAVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19471, 29 October 1926, Page 10

THE WAITOMO CAVES.

ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM. DELAY WITH NEW HOSTEL. TENDERS NOT YET CALLED. OLD BUILDING AS ANNEXE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COS RESPONDENT. ] TE KUITI. Thursday. Tenders have not yet been called for the erection of the new hostel at Waitomo Caves, although a record tourist season is expected. A building once used as a stable is being altered and enlarged to provide 20 additional beds and a social hall. In response to a protest from the Te Kuiti Chamber of* Commerce, at the continued delay in connection with the new building, the Minister in charge of tourist resorts, Hon. W. Nosworthy, wrote in August that everything possible was being done to push forward the erection of the new hostel. He stated that the Public Works Department advised that tenders would be called toward the end of that month. It was also stated earlier in the year that it was hoped to have the new building ready for the coming season. Experience at Easter.

The matter has been in the hands of the Public Works Department for two years. How far the additional 20 beds will go toward filling the demand for accommodation at the caves during the coming season may be judged from the fact that between 270 and 300 would-be guests were turned away last Easter, everv available bed having been bookod two months before. Official figures show that the total number of visitors to the caves during the year was 10,548, compared with 8163 for the previous year, an increase of 2385, which was a record in tho history of the resort. Bookings for Christmas and New Year are coming in fast already, and there is every indication that another record in the number of visitors to the caves and of guests refused at the hostel will he established. Even during the last week-end all accommodation was booked.

In addition to the lack of bedrooms at the hostel, the dining room is totally inadequate. Last Easter 170 persons •were served with lunch in the room which was designed to seat 50, and this year, with the 20 additional guests housed in the annexe, conditions will be even worse.

Revenue and Improvements

The Government has drawn substantial revenue from the caves and hostel for years. Last year the total receipts were £8656, an increase of £1564 over the previous year. The net profit on the year's working was £4653, against £2955 for the year ending March 31, 1925. Although the accommodation has not been much increased, considerable improvements have been made in the caves themselves during the year, and they will certainly prove an even greater attraction to tourists. The electric lighting recently installed permits the full beauty of the stalactite formations to be seen, and the extensive use of duckboards in the wet places and the improvement of bridges have added greatly to the pleasure of the visitor. It is understood that the plan for the new hostel provides for 50 rooms. It is clear, however, from the rapid increase in the demand for accommodation, that at least 100 rooms will be required to reap the full harvest of the rush season.