THE TOURIST REPORT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11647, 26 August 1905, Page 6

THE TOURIST REPORT.

Tpkaanu-piplplkl Route.

(Prom Our Parliamentary" Special). . (By -Telegraph)-. . r . - . WELLINGTON, August 25, In his annual report' the'Superinlendent of Tourist and Health Resorts states that the complaints of travellers on the . Toka-anu-Pipiriki route do not diminish. In fact, there is' a tendency in the other di.rection. It is desirable that something more effective be done to put the coach road in repair. For a great part of the past season it was unfit for .coach traffic. THE WANGANUI RIVER. The work of improving the upper reaches of the Wanganui River is still 2Jroceeding under the direction of the River Trust Board. The river has been widened at Tarepokiore'by the removal of a .cliff on the right bank, thereby improving the channel and causing the disappearance of a dangerous* whirlpool. Retaining' walls in the Ongarue tributary near, the Taumaruriui landiiig, at Rurumaiakatea, Tarangahoura, To'vhenua,' Rarawhakamatuku, , Taitakataka, and Tehoroporoaki were constructed. These improvements have enabled a continuous, service to be maintained. At Retaruke, Ohaoa, Upokppoito, Tupapa.and Arokura 1593 ft of new. wall was constructed. The works were much hindered early in the y.ear by a heavy flood, which carried, away considerable gear, etc. The Steamship Company's houseboat between Pipiriki and Xaumarunui has , been .iii use during the season. Tlie "river was very low for some time in the late summer, which probably accounted" for the complaints in the matter of irregular and unreliable runnings o.f.the boats. An improvement was effected whereby a day is practically saved between Auckland and. Wellington by , making a stjeamer connection at Wauganui twice weekly with the express south, so as to enable passengers to travel from Pipriki to Wellington in one day. THE TOURISTS. During the past year there has been an increase in the number of visitors to New Zealand from all countries whence visitors have hitherto been drawn. The increases were: — Australia 166, United Kingdom 230, United States and- Canada 146, other countries 217. Estimating the amount of capital at .£SO expended by ' each visitor, the Sinister for Tourist and Health Resorts remarks that the vahie of the traffic is shown to be i>299,000, an increase of .£3BOO as compared with the previous year. ' The question of extending the influence of the- Department by opening agencies in Sydney and Melbourne , has BjSen under consideration, but ho definite aofton.; has yet been decided jip.on. Jji 'separate report the Acting Secretary reports that the last two months of the season- were the busiest on record. The receipts of the Department for tho year totalled =£16,018, an increase of .£673. The receipts at Rotorua "amounted to .68525. .