TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5678, 28 August 1905, Page 2

TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

OVERSEA VISITORS. INCREASE FROM ALL COUNTRIES. Tho Tourist and Health Resorts Department’s report. laid before Parliament on Friday by Sir Joseph Ward, shows that in tho year under review the phenomenal incraeso in tire oversea traffic for tho year 1903-4 over the previous year has been well maintained. There has boon an increase from all countries from which our visitors have hitherto been drawn, the inereSse recorded being as follows: --Australia, IG6; United Kingdom, 230; United States and Canada, 146; other countries,. 217: or a total of 759. The smallnees of the increase in the traffic from Australia is no doubt due to the frequently cabled reports concerning the unsettled Climatic conditions prevailing in New Zealand during the first halt of the season. Many visitors from the Commonwealth have stated that owing to these reports quite a considerable number of Australians either postponed or abandoned their proposed tours of this colony. The very encouraging increase in the traffic from the United States, Canada, and Great Britain may be attributed in a very largo measure in the former case to the St. Louis Exhibition and the advertising in connection therewith, and in the latter case to the very, much more extensive advertising of the colony’s attractions in the Homeland than hitherto, just prior to opening of last season. .

The numbers of oversea visitors from the several countries recorded for the past two years ate as follows:

These figures cannot be regarded as complete. Quite a large number of visitors have probably escaped being recorded. ■ They, however, provide good evidence of the value and the rate of increase of the traffic. Estimating the amount of capital at £SO expended by each visitor, the figures of 1903-4 gave the value of the traffic in round numbers as £261,000, Estimating the expenditure on the same basis for the year 1904-5 the value of the traffic is shown to be £299,000. an increase of £33.000 for the year.

The direct receipts of the department amounted bo £16,018 3s Id, show-, ing.an increase of £673 14s 2d over fch# previous year. Taking into considcra--tion the loss of local traffic caused by unseasonable climatic conditions, and too stoppage of Waimangu, which in itself caused a. shrinkage estimated at upwards of £ISOO, the financial result for the year may be regarded as very satisfactory. Tho gross arrivals and departures for tho year ending the 31st December, 1904, were 54,909, as against 50,491 for 1903, showing the increase in moving traffic of 4418.

During the four years tho depai-b----ment has been in operation tho increase in population by arrivals over departures has been greatly; in excess of any previously recorded. From 1901 to 1904 the gain to tho colony by this means has been 36,144. On the whole, the influx has been of a class bringing 'means, and likely to make excellent citizens.

Tho question of extending the influence of tho department by opening agencies in Sydney and Melbourne has been under consideration, but no definite action has yet been decided Upon. The reduction of the rate for tho transmission by post of newspapers has had tho anticipated, result of causing many additional thousands of the weekly illustrated newspapers, which are now produced in such an artistic manner, to be sent abroad, thus vastly increasing the knowledge of the colony’s progress and attractions in other lands. The best results may bo expected from tho enlarged circulation of such valuable'advertising media. Comprehensive exhibits were, during tlie year, sent to the Crystal Palace, London, with a large quantity of literature for distribution. A large number of pamphlets and books wore also distributed/at the Liverpool Produce Exhibition.

Recognising the value of sport to the colony, and the advisability of stocking with suitable animals our large 'areas of waste .lands, consisting chiefly of mountain-tops, the department has during tho year given considerable attention to the introduction of suitable animals and birds for sport purposes. Tho t-hnr and Japanese deer presented by the Duke of Bedford were liberated on the Southern Alps and the Kaimanawa Ranges respectively. A further consignment of twenty wapiti, twenty-four Virginian deer, and five blacktail deer, and 119 birds (chiefly water-fowl) was procured from America and distributed among acclimatisation societies throughout the colony. These animals and birds in the future should add materially to the value of our sporting attractions.

1903-4. 1904-5. Australia 2,726 21,892 United Kingdom 1.795 2,025 Uniiod States and Canada 417 563 European Continent ... 102 146 Africa 64 113 India ... 61 86 Other countries 68 167 5.233 5,992