TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS DEPARTMENT (EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE), BY THE MINISTER OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS, HON. T. MACKENZIE.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1909 Session II, H-02

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1909. NEW ZEALAND.

TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS DEPARTMENT (EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE), BY THE MINISTER OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS, HON. T. MACKENZIE.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Minister in Charge of Tourist and Health Resorts Department to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord,— Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Wellington, 21st July, 1909. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts for the year ending 31st March, 1909. I have, &c, Thomas Mackenzie, Minister for Tourist and Health Resorts. His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand. The appended statements by the departmental officers show that the Tourist and Health Resorts Department is increasing in its usefulness and in its service to the State. During the autumn I visited a number of the resorts, in order to become familiar with them, and to look into their needs and requirements. A number of suggestions and improvements, involving no heavy outlay, have either already been taken in hand or are under consideration, and it is hoped the result will be of benefit alike to the State and to the travelling public. I recognise that with careful expenditure and good administration the Department m*ay be made of great service, and secure a stream of visitors to our shores, many to remain permanently with us, whilst others, by the expenditure of money, assist considerably in the development of our country. In some quarters the opinion is apparently held that our scenic and health resorts are being maintained almost solely for the benefit of wealthy oversea visitors to this country. This is an erroneous conception. It is estimated that of those who take advantage of the facilities to view the Dominion's scenic glories and receive thermal springs' treatment three-fourths are New Zealand residents, and it is my special desire that our resorts shall be made more accessible to our own people by, as far as possible, improving the means of access and reducing the cost of transport and accommodation. .More especially does this appear to me to be necessary in regard to our thermal springs, and in this connection 1 may say that endeavours are being made to make our sanatoria more widely available to suffering humanity. There are, unfortunately, very many people in poor circumstances in this country who suffer from rheumatism and kindred ailments, and who can be successfully treated at our hot-springs sanatoria, but who lack the means to avail themselves of the treatment, and consequently become a burden on the State when incapacitated from their usual avocations through these ailments. The Department has, since its inception, been providing free accommodation a.nd medical treatment at considerable cost for a few of these sufferers annually, and I hope, with the co-operation of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, to be able to extend this good work. It will be seen from the report of the General Manager and other reports attached hereto that there has been a satisfactory increase in both oversea and local traffic. Each of the scenic and health resorts has attracted a greater number of visitors than in any previous year. There is room for improvement in the accommodation of huts, &c, in our remoter districts, and instructions have been given to extend facilities wherever possible with the means at the disposal of the Department. At the Hermitage, where of late years there lias been a marked increase in the number of visitors, a new accommodation-house is required. The present premises were originally taken over by the Government from a syndicate. The situation is not a good one, and lacks many advantages. There is, however, an excellent site at Governor's Bush, where the buildings to take the place of the present Hermitage should be erected. The site is a natural terrace, sunny, and from it a fine view of the magnificent scenery up the Hooker and Tasman Valley is obtained. A connection is also required between the Hermitage and the West Coast. Towards this I hope to do something during the coming year. The country between Te Anau and Wakatipu, which, in company witli Mr. H. Birley and Surveyor Murcott, 1 explored two years ago, has during the past season been opened up by a rougli track, and the hardier class of tourists may now proceed, via the Greenstone River, direct from Lake Wakatipu to the head of Lake Te Anau. The scenery along this route is exceedingly beautiful, I—H. 2.

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and perhaps more varied in its character than is to be found in any other part of our country, ranging as it does from the bold glacier-decked heights which wall in Milford Sound to the open sunny park-like grassy lawns of the Eglington Valley. When the track is further improved, and huts have been erected, this new route, whilst shortening the journey from Wakalipu to I lie head of Lake Te Anau by something like 150 miles, will place the traveller in direct communication with the Clinton Valley, Sutherland Kails, Milford Track, &c, and will traverse delightful scenery the whole way. I consider that Lake Wanaka should be connected by motor service with Clyde. and that Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri should be connected by a similar service with Lunisden, and inquiries are being made to see if such services can be instituted with a reasonable prospect of success. Probably Lake Wanaka is one of our most interesting tourist resorts, but owing to various causes this district has nol been developed to the extent that it deserves. Efforts of an inexpensive nature, however, are being' made to effect an alteration in this direction. The season at Queenstown has been a successful one, and it is hoped by judicious outlay to afford further attractions for visitors to this favourite resort. Regarding the scenic grandeurs in the South, it lias been my endeavour since assuming charge of the Department to make these more accessible tii oil! , own people, especially to those whose means and time are limited. With this object in view, and tog-ether with the co-operation of the Union Steamship Company, arrangements were made last Easter for the s.s. " Talune "' to run an excursion trip to several of our most beautiful sounds. The trip was an unqualified success, every available berth being booked. The company did its utmost to make the outing a pleasant one, and the passengers also united to (hat end. The fare was £5 for the whole trip, and for this moderate charge much of our glorious Piordland scenery was visited. As the result was so satisfactory. 1 am now in negotiation with the Union Company to run two trips during the ensuing summer. These will embrace a wider range than last Easter's excursion, and I have every hope they will be equally as successful as was the initial trip. There are also under consideration projects for similar cheap sea excursions in other parts of the Dominion. It is not so easy to arrange land trips for the many, but 1 have given instructions to afford facilities for " campers " on the overland trip from Te Anau to Milford Sound, further particulars concerning which will l>e made known in due course. In referring to the West Coast Sounds it may not lie out of place to mention that Mr. Richard Henry, the Curator, who for so many years was identified with Fiorland, lias been transferred from Resolution Island to Kapiti Island,' and is now an officer of the Lands Department, During his sojourn on Resolution Island Mr. Henry rendered valuable service to the Dominion and to the scientific world by reason of his investigations as a naturalist. Many improvements of a permanent nature have been carried out at Rotorua, and the upkeep of the town has been well maintained: and yet, witli economical administration, the bank overdraft of £508 11s. 7d. which existed when the Department took control of the town has been converted into a credit balance of £40 at the close of the year. The total revenue of the town for the year amounted to £4,756, and the expenditure to £4,249. The revenue of the town is chiefly derived from Crown rents and bath fees allocated for the requirements of the town under the statutes passed for its management and control. The different " round trips" about the district have proved popular, and have been largely taken advantage of. At Whakarewarewa the complete model of a Maori pa has made good progress towards completion, and constitutes one of the attractions of this interesting thermal region. At Te Aroha various improvements have been effected, and the indications are that the popularity of this charming resort continues to grow. The Waitomo Caves also show an increasing popularity. The new accommodation-house is now ready to receive visitors, and it should fill a much-needed want. The oversea agencies have carried on as hitherto their ordinary work. Apart from disseminating information as tourist, bureaux, a good deal of useful work has been done in advising settlers of a good type. In this connection, information has been placed at my disposal to the effect that a number of people with a considerable amount of capital has been induced to set out for New Zealand by the information received at the oversea agencies. With the object of further stocking the waste lands of the country with big game an order was placed some time ago in Canada for some moose, and it is hoped that these will be successfully acclimatised, as has been the case with other imported animals. So far as pan be ascertained, the thar, imported in 1904; the elk, Japanese blacktail, and Virginian deer, imported in 1905; the chamois, sambur, and axis dear, imported in 1907: and the axis deer (lately liberated in the Seaforth Valley) and bharal sheep (liberated at Mount Cook), recently imported, have all been successfully acclimatised. In particular, the elk seem to be doing well in the Fiord country. The leasing of a number of tourists' accommodation-houses, and the reductions consequent upon the reorganization of the Department in the Head Office staff and the staffs of some of the institutions under the Department's control, will make it possible to considerably reduce the expenditure for the maintenance of the Department from the Consolidated Fund during the current year. As compared with the vote for 1908-9 a reduction of about £8,000 will be made on the vote for 1909-10. In order to increase the usefulness of the Department, there is now under consideration a proposal for the issue by the Department of tickets over all the principle routes—railway, steamer, and coach—throughout'the Dominion. The various offices in the chief centres of population are readily accessible to the public, and I am sure that, in issuing tickets in the manner proposed, the Department will take up a duty for which it is particularly well adapted, and which will prove to be of great convenience to the people of New Zealand, as well as to those who come from oversea, and who are more or less unfamiliar with the conditions of travel in the Dominion. Up to the present the Department has furnished all information regarding routes, and arranged details of tours. Inquirers, after obtaining the information they seek, have then to go to other offices for the necessary tickets, It is felt that it will be a great convenience to travellers if, at the same time that they have their tours mapped out, they can obtain the tickets for the tours they intend to take.

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APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I.

EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. Sir, — Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Wellington, 10th July, 1909. I have the honour to submit herewith the departmental report for the year ending 31sl March, 1909. 1 have, etc., C. R. C. Robibson, Acting for General Manager. Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, Minister in Charge Tourist and Health Resorts Department. I have to report that the number of visitors recorded from oversea during the past year was 8,982, as compared with 8,602 for 1507—8, an increase of 380. The value of the traffic estimated on the same basis as in previous years was £119,000, compared with £430,000 for 1907-8, an increase of £19,000. The value of the traffic in 1900 was estimated at £100,000. I append a table showing the figures for the last four years, indicating the countries from which visitors were*drawn, and the estimated value of the traffic. The large increase shown for 1906—7 is due to the International Exhibition held at Christchurch, which caused a very large increase of visitors from Australia. It will be noticed that during 1908-9 the visitors from Australia, Great Britain, ar.d Africa all increased, while the increase from the United States and Canada was upwards of 75 per cent, of the previous year's figures. The means of communication with the United States is still unsatisfactory, owing to the want of a direct mail-service via San Francisco or Vancouver, and no great development of traffic from America can be expected at present. The increase brought about last season is no doubt due very largely to the advertising campaign which the Department carried on in America early in 1907-8. The following table shows the number of visitors from each country from which tourists are being drawn: —

Direct Revenue. The direct receipts of the Department for the year amounted to £23,787 9s. 3d., as compared with £20,487 18s. 4d. for the previous year, an increase of £3,299 10s. lid. The following schedule gives details of the receipts of the Department during the last three financial years, also for the year 1902-3, the first complete year of the Department's operations. Fiom this schedule it will lie noted that the direct revenue of the Department has increased from £8,401 Is. Bd. in 1902-3 to £23,787 9s. 3d. for the year under review. The receipts for 1903-4 amounted to £15,344 Bs. lid. ; for 1904-5, £16,018 3s. Id.; and for 1905-6, £15,820 10s. lid. In addition to the sum of £23,787 9s. 3d., the Department should receive credit for the value of much good work done in the free treatment to indigent sufferers at the sanatoria of Hannier Springs and Rotorua. During the past year patients in indigent circumstances were treated at these institutions free of charge, and at a cost of about £500 to the Department; and in addition friendly society patients were treated at special rates, on which there was a loss to the Department of £100: making a total of £900. lam of the opinion that this work is not one which can be regarded as a legitimate charge against the cost of the Department. The work done in restoring invalids to health, and thereby enabling them to Jiecome producers of wealth instead of becoming a charge on charitable-aid funds, is a valuable one to the State, and one not only worthy of continuance, but of extension. At the same time, I consider that the charge is a legitimate one against the funds set aparl for charitable-aid purposes, and that the Tourist and Health Resorts Department should he relieved of the cost. The assistance given to friendly societies should be treated in a similar 1 method in so far as the crediting of this Department with the value of the work done is concerned. This would give a clear indication of what is being done to assist members of friendly societies, and at the same time credit the Department with the value of its work. Another work which has been carried on out of the Department's vote is the free treatment of Maoris in the Rotorua district. This work cost the Department for the last financial year the sum of £348 to provide medical attendance for out-patients ; and medical attendance, nursing, and maintenance of hospital cases. This is a work carried on by this Department for the sake of convenience, and the Department should be credited with the cost from the funds provided for the assistance of the Native race.

1905-6. 1906-7. 1907-8. 1908-9. Australia Great Britain United States and Canada Europe Africa India Other countries 3,463 2,376 652 175 137 92 247 5,612 2,394 763 260 196 85 374 4,958 2,442 426 242 166 140 228 5,050 2,552 760 146 197 130 147 Estimated expenditure by visitors 7,142 ... £357,000 7,142 9,684 8,602 8,982 £484,000 £430,000 £449,000

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The following table gives full particulars of the direct revenue of the Department:—

Receipts of the Tourist and Health Resorts Department for Year ended 31st March, 1909.

The receipts for the year 1908-9 amounted to £23,787 9s. 3d., compared with £20,487 18s. 4d. for the previous year, an increase of £3,299 10s. lid.; equals 161 per cent.

1902-3. 1906-7. 1907-8. 1908-9. Te Aroha — Bath fees and towel-hire Out-patients' fees .. .. Tennis-players, library fees, &c. Tea-house £ s. d. 396 12 10 16 5 6 27 4 0 £ s. d. 1,022 17 9 419 11 0 91 7 0 £ s. d. 1,011 13 2 500 12 6 152 17 6 £ s. d. 1,113 17 3 339 18 6 220 11 3 77 4 3 Rotorua — Sanatorium patients' fees Out-patients' fees Sale of bath-tickets, and towel-hire Dry massage and electrical treatment Water and sewerage fees .. Electric-light charges Tennis-players, <fec. Round trip : Launch fares, accommodation, guidingfees, &o. Tea-house Sale of mineral waters Launch licenses, wharfages, &c. Miscellaneous receipts 440 2 4 1,533 15 9 1,665 3 2 1,751 11 3 717 3 3 589 10 0 1,874 5 7 132 12 6 544 19 0 47 7 0 565 5 0 892 5 6 748 16 0 2,614 8 6 219 5 9 369 19 2 1,406 6 3 137 8 3 1,933 1 0 1,055 16 3 724 12 5 2,577 9 0 199 5 3 343 0 0 1,689 18 3 179 13 6 1,981 8 0 1,287 0 11 753 5 0 3,052 13 3 336 15 9 959 10 7 1,858 10 3 215 3 3 3,031 19 6 144 19 11 395 19 3 216 16 0 105 0 0 174 12 2 659 1 0 147 16 10 19 0 0 74 12 5 661 15 5 188 14 5 75 19 0 256 13 1 Rotorua Acclimatisation District reoeipts 4,616 2 3 9,213 17 10 55 10 0 9,651 12 11 503 3 11 12,678 0 5 669 2 3 Te Puia Hot Springs Accommodation-house — Accommodation fees, &c. 340 18 4 355 9 1 Waitomo Caves Accommodation-house — Accommodation fees, &c. .. 182 9 10 584 5 10 656 17 5 Lake House, Waikaremoana — Accommodation fees, &o. Oil-launch and boat receipts 66 12 6 532 12 7 135 10 3 367 14 4 94 7 0 396 4 0 97 11 2 66 12 6 668 2 10 462 1 4 493 15 2 Morere Hot Springs — Bath fees, &c. 50 7 3 70 13 3 71 15 0 Hanmer Hot Springs — Accommodation fees Sale of batli-tickets, and towel-hire Tennis-players, &c. Sale of Guides, pamphlets, &c. Miscellaneous recefptB Tea-house receipts 1,200 16 10 778 8 6 11 19 11 1,078 4 3 687 3 3 5 10 0 0 3 0 20 10 7 190 3 0 1,180 8 10 716 19 8 4 12 9 684 6 5 595 3 7 12 0 6 39'19 6 233 13 6 136' 1 3 181 16 0 1,991 5 3 1,981 14 1 2,175 14 3 1,609 7 9 Pukaki Accommodation-house — Accommodation fees, &c. .. 131 11 0 653 1 4 625 14 10 825 1 2 " Hermitage " — Accommodation fees, &c. 1,405 12 6 914 15 6 1,516 8 4 1,796 10 0 Queenstown Park — Bowls, &o. 14 12 0 44 16 3 72 10 6 Lake Manapouri — Steamer fares 146 10 0 149 2 6 153 18 9 Te Anau Accommodation-house — Accommodation fees, &o. 486 10 0 598 19 3 541 8 0 Lake Te Anau — Steamer fares, &c. 474 19 6 625 15 0 645 2 6 Glade House and Milford Tracks — Accommodation fees, &c. Guiding-fees 517 7 6 86 0 6 607 7 0 133 15 0 733 18 10 169 3 9 603 8 0 741 2 0 903 2 7 Head Office — Sale of pamphlets, cards, photos, &c. 240 12 10 620 18 7 843 3 0 563 17 5 Totals 8,401 1 8 18,202 5 4 23,787 9 3 20,487 18 4

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American Tourist Traffic. The Department is still in communication with the Hawaiian Promotion Committee and other organizations in regard to developing the above, but in the absence of a direct steam passenger service from San Francisco or Vancouver to New Zealand it is felt thai the present is not an opportune time to enter into any definite arrangements which may necessitate an outlay of any considerable sum of money. Agencies. The branch offices of the Department in New Zealand are becoming year by year more popular with the travelling public, the number of inquiries dealt with by these offices during the past year being 44,890, showing an increase of 3,267 over the previous year. Very good work has been done by the agencies in Sydney and Melbourne. Apart from their usefulness in bringing under notice of the Australian people the attractions of New Zealand, valuable work has been done by these agencies in fostering immigration of a desirable class, and very many settlers with quite a considerable amount of capital have been induced to come to New Zealand by the information which they received from the Agent either at Sydney or Melbourne. The value of the agencies of the Department would be greatly enhanced if it were empowered to issue tickets to travellers over all railway, coaching, and steamboat lines throughout the Dominion. This is a work which 1 consider the Department should undertake in the interests of the travelling public. The want of such a system places the Dominion far behind other countries in the facilities and conveniences offered to travellers. The Government Agent at Sydney writes: — " The year under notice must be considered most satisfactory, in view of the gratifying development of the passenger traffic which has shown abnormal increases since the inception of this agency in 1906. The number of persons carried out of the Port of Sydney to either Wellington or Auckland during 1906-7 amounted to 11,362, whilst in 1907-8 no less than 18,979 passengers embarked for the Dominion, and 1908-9—the third year of the Department's operations—the great number of 2f,996 was carried. These figures evidence the value and volume of the oversea traffic, and serve in a measure to justify the existence of the office, and at the same time to demonstrate the fact that the agency is appreciated by the people of the Commonwealth. This year the number of callers amounted to 17,007, and every effort was made to stimulate a healthy interest in New Zealand and its wealth of scenic attractions. The dissemination of literature has been zealously attended to, and specially prepared parcels of printed matter has been placed in the principal hotels and libraries of mail-steamers, &c. The work of attracting people from this and adjoining States has been further catered for by the judicious loan of lantern-slides, which have been affectively used for advertising the Dominion. The promotion of settlement has engaged a good deal of attention, and the result of the agency's work in this direction has been very gratifying. " Tourist Traffic. —The remarkable increase in the number of passengers carried serves to show the buoyancy of the tourist traffic, and I am of opinion that the increase will continue. Hitherto, Tasmania and the Blue Mountains have claimed a large number of pleasure and health seekers, but as New Zealand is becoming better known, a greater number will select the Dominion for preference in which to spend their holiday vacation. Queensland has never yet been properly exploited, and, from inquiries to hand, T am convinced that if more attention were devoted to this State very satisfactory results could be achieved. The difficulty at present is that there is no local place where information can be obtained direct. Neither of the shipping companies trading to New Zealand are directly represented, and, in oonsequence, many inquiries find their way to this office, whilst others are not gone on.with. Reviewing the work of the year, much has been accomplished, and evidence is not wanting that New Zealand will continue to derive practical value from the scope and operations of the agency. " Display of Exhibits. —During the year many of the exhibits at this agency were renewed, and strangers visiting the office may now rot only view a handsome collection of pictures, but inspect samples of most of the Dominion's products. Whilst neglecting no opportunity for developing the tourist traffic, the commercial side of the agency has not been lost sight of, and this is referred to in a special report." The Government Agent in Melbourne writes : — " The number of inquiries received during the year just closed has considerably increased, and the usefulness of the Melbourne offices both to local residents and to those from abroad (who evidently appreciate the conveniences placed at their disposal for obtaining reliable and up-to-date information regarding Dominion affairs) has been more than ever apparent. The variety of subjects on which we are constantly questioned has also widened, embracing as they do the following branches of the public service—namely: Customs, Patents and Trade-marks, Agriculture, Lands, Labour, Immigration, Finance, Railways, statistical and industrial trading concerns, &c. " By degrees Dominion matters are becoming concentrated within the walls of the agency, and the public are quick to make use of the facilities afforded them, as the following figures— carefully recorded during the year —prove: Callers, 15,811, of whom 1,532 were from foreign countries and 14,279 local, or an average of fifty a day. This is an increase on last year's visiting list of 3,829. "As illustrating the estimation in which our representation is regarded I may mention that when it was recently mooted in the State Legislature that the Minister of Lands should be sent to New Zealand to inquire into the land-for-settlemcnt scheme, labour laws, State coal-mines, and other matters, it was pointed out by one of the members of the House that there was no need for this, seeing that an agent for the Dominion was located in the city'from whom all information on such subjects could be obtained. " The fact that all the Australian States are entering on a vigorous immigration and advertising policy, and at the same time drawing special attention to their own individual attractions, enhances the importance of our presence in Victoria. Persons arriving from foreign countries as

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a result of such advertising are prone to compare the conditions offered by New Zealand in regard to land settlement with theirs before finally deciding which country is to be their future home. "Tourist Traffic.—Out tourist file shows that during the past season we completed 152 detailed itineraries for parties ranging from one to six persons, in addition to thirty of the ' twenty-days ' itinerary, which were typed in duplicate and given to persons who had decided on making the tour. This does not include the school-teachers, who were supplied with a detailed itinerary on the back of the circular letter sent them. That they took advantage of the trip in large numbers is shown by the fact that one ship alone —the " Marama " (leaving Melbourne on the 16th December —carried no less than eighty teachers ; a large number of others went on other dates (some via Sydney). This represents, of course, only a percentage of the total number of tourists who passed through our hands; but, computing at a yim-v low estimate the amount which would -be spent in the Dominion by those we actually know of, it would represent a sum exceeding .£20,000 as our quota towards the tourist traffic. The southern portion of the South Island being nearest to Victoria, and containing such wonderful mountain and lake scenery, every opportunity has been taken of directing attention to the glories within reach. Most Australians know that New Zealand contains unrivalled wonders, needing little elaboration, but they do not trouble to ascertain what can be accomplished in a given time and at a given price. If more stress be laid on these points the better the results should be. An instance of this was the good returns obtained from the ' Twenty-days for .£2O trip ' to the Southern Lakes, which I did my best to exploit this season. A definite announcement like this holds the attention more than elaborate general advertisements. " Lectures. —I have taken every opportunity to arrange with literary and other societies for illustrated lectures, and am pleased to report that these have proved eminently successful; they have been given in as many suburbs as possible. On every occasion I have been well received, and speakers have expressed themselves as being charmed with the wonders and beauties of our country, in nearly every instance indicating their intention of visiting the Dominion when occasion oilers. Besides my own lectures, 1 have loaned a large assortment of lantern-slides to those making application, and reports that have readied me show that they have been made good use of. " Land Settlement. —Information on this important subject has been disseminated. Letters of introduction to the bands Department have been given to numbers of intending settlers and their dependants from all parts of the Empire. These have taken considerable capital. Naturally, 1 have been unable to obtain even the approximate total, but my monthly reports show specific sums aggregating £17,058 which I know of. "Leading hotels, clubs, steamers, and waiting-rooms have been supplied with itineraries and other illustrated matter, and photographs of New Zealand industries and scenery have been given to State schools throughout Victoria, on condition that they were suitably framed and glazed and hung on the walls. Illustrations taken from the weekly papers have been displayed in front of the agency, and have always attracted interested crowds. These methods, though small in themselves, have proved really effective, considering the small outlay involved." Advertising. The advertising carried on by the Department during the past year has been on the same lines as in previous years, with the exception that greater attention has been paid to the securing of kinematograph pictures. A number of these have been sent to the High Commissioner in Loudon; also to the Melbourne office, where arrangements have been made for their exhibition. In my opinion it will be possible to get better results from the expenditure on advertising by somewhat varying the methods which have been adopted in the past in the preparation and publishing of literature. 1 consider that the publications which have been issued are for the most part too bulky and expensive, both in printing and distribution, for effective circulation. The issue of publications will be greatly simplified in the future by the decision which has been come to of eliminating reference to immigration matters from this Department's work. In my opinion the best advertising method to adopt to increase the tourist traffic is to print small attractive pamphlets which are not expensive to produce nor costly to distribute. By this means a very much greater number of people can be reached at less cost. Another form of advertising which appeals to me greatly is that of inserting interesting illustrated articles in suitable magazines. A good deal of this class of advertising has already been done by the Department, with excellent results. Pamphlets. The following new pamphlets were published during the year: "New Zealand Tourist and Health Resorts, 10,000; " Geyserland," 20,000; "The Marlborough Sounds and Nelson," 3,000. The following were republished: " New Zealand in a Nutshell," 5,000; " New Zealand," 5,000; "Average Prices of Produce," 1,000; "Fifty Years' Progress in New Zealand," 10,000; " Itinerary of Travel in New Zealand," 21,000. Pamphlets and illustrated newspapers to the number of 91,824 were circulated during the year in New Zealand and abroad, also 45,924 post-cards. In addition to the above, 1,000 copies of Cowan's " New Zealand " (souvenir books) were distributed to men of the American fleet while visiting Auckland. 10,037 photographs have been issued during the year, for the purpose of illustrating newspaper articles published abroad, and for exhibiting in shipping offices, steamer-saloons, and other places where they will lie brought Under the notice of travellers. 3,331 lantern-slides have also been issued by the Department for use in connection with lectures delivered in different parts. Exhibitions. The exhibits sent by this Department to the Franco-British Exhibition were of a very comprehensive and interesting character, and included a large number of deer, boar, and goat heads. A splendid display of mounted trout was also made, there being twenty specimens, including Loch

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Leven, rainbow, brown, and fontinalis varieties, ranging in weight from 101b. to 231b. The feathered game of the Dominion was represented by specimens of paradise, spoonbill, and brown ducks, pukeko, pheasant, and widgeon. A notable feature of the exhibit, and one greatly admired, was the oil and water-colour paintings by artists such as Christmas, Perrett, Howorth, and I ley sen : and the collection of photographic enlargements were typical of the agricultural, pastoral, and industrial aspects of the Dominion, as well as the scenic. On the occasion of the visit of their Majesties the King and Queen to the New Zealand Pavilion, on the 20th May, when they were accompanied by the President of the French Republic, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, H.R.H. Princess Victoria, and a distinguished party, both the King and President displayed great interest in the New Zealand exhibits, and expressed admiration for the display of sporting and other specimens made by the Department. A " grand prix " was awarded to this Department's exhibit of deer, wild goat, and boar heads, game, bird-skins, &c, and a " diploma of honour " to the exhibit of natural mineral waters and mineral mud from Government spas and sanatoria. A large quantity of literature illustrative of New Zealand, from the point of view both of the tourist arid of the prospective settler, was distributed to visitors, and served to further advertise the attractions of the Dominion. At the Imperial International Exhibition, which opened on the 20th May, 1909, this Department is even better represented than at the Franco-British Exhibition, as, in addition to showing all the exhibits used in connection with the latter, a further large number of sporting trophies lias been forwarded from New Zealand, so that a most comprehensive, typical, and interesting display is made. The distribution of literature concerning the Dominion has again been arranged for, and ample supplies have been forwarded for this purpose. At a very moderate outlay, an exhibit of a Maori' whare, &c., was made at both the Federal Bazaar and the Women's Political League Fete, at St. Kilda, Melbourne, and the New Zealand Government Agent attended both functions, and distributed suitable literature. Sport. The number of oversea visitors in search of angling, deer-stalking, and shooting has been well maintained. This refers more particularly to anglers, who each year arrive in increasing numbers. The sport which is now afforded by the number and size of the trout in our lakes and streams has become well known abroad, and T look to angling attractions with confidence as a means of largely increasing our tourist traffic. I append hereto a schedule showing the big game imported and distributed by this Department since it came into operation : —

Year. Number and Description of Game. Prom. Where liberated. 1901 4 red deer 3 „ 7 „ Wairarapa herds Lake Waikaremoana. Stewart Island. Tuhua, West Coast. 1903 1904 8 „ 6 thar Presented by Miss Audrey Chirnside, Werribee Park, Victoria Ditto ... Presented by the Duke of Bedford, England Ditto ... Lake Wakatipu. Mount Cook. 1905 6 Japanese deer Kaimanawa Ranges, near Taupo. Tarawera, Hawke's Bay. Fiordland National Park. if 5 blacktail deer 10 elk Purchased in the United States Presented by President Roosevelt, United States Purchased in the United States 8 19 Virginian deer 18 in Stewart Island, 1 in Nelson. Lake Kanieri, West Coast. 1906 1907 8 red deer 4 „ 5 9 „ Presented by Miss Audrey Chirnside, Werribee Park, Victoria Ditto ... Wairarapa herds Presented by G. W. Chirnside, Werribee Park, Victoria Presented by H.I.M. the Emperor of Austria Purchased in Noumea Purchased in England Tuhua, West Coast. Tongariro National Park. Lake Rotoiti, Rotorua. if 8 chamois Mount Cook. it 2 sanibur ... 6 axis Galatea, Rotorua District. 5 liberated at Mount Tongariro ; 1, which was blind, presented to Wellington Zoo. Paraparaurnu Deer Park. 1908 4 red deer ■Presented by Mr. Lucas, Warnham Court, England Paraparamu Deer Park ... 1909 3 Seaforth, Mackenzie River, Dusky Sound. Ditto. Mount Cook District, Southern Alps. ft 6 axis deer 3 bharal sheep Purchased in England (1 died) It a

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As far as I have been able to ascertain, practically all of the game imported and liberated is* doing well, and it is only a matter of a few years when much of the country which may now be regarded as absolutely waste land will provide great attractions for oversea visitors, and also a healthy means of amusement and recreation for residents in the Dominion. Probably the best deer-stalking is now secured in the Otago District. Many good heads were last season secured in the vicinity of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka. Good sport was also found by stalkers in the Nelson district, and special arrangements were made with the local Acclimatisation Society for guides in this district. The Wairarapa, which some years ago provided the best stalking in New Zealand, is now practically closed except to those who are fortunate enough to secure the good offices of the runholder, there being little Crown lands in this district available for the stalker. Rotorua Acclimatisation District. In addition to the area under the control of the Department at the beginning of the year, about 7,500 square miles, extending 160 miles from Table Cape on the east to the Wanganui River on the west, and 110 miles from liuapehu on the south to the Bay of Plenty on the north, the Whakatane County was added to the district during the year, increasing the area by an additional 1,200 square miles. The work carried out during the year has consisted mainly in the hatching and distributing of trout, and ranging the district, to prevent the illegal destruction of game. The hatchery on the Waikuta Stream has again proved very successful under Mr. E. F. Rutherford's charge, and the following quantities of eyed ova and fry have been distributed: Eyed ova, 150,000; trout-fry, 1,160,000. A careful watch was kept during the season on the conditions of diseases of the fish in the lakes, and there is an improvement noticeable. The fish were, as is usual, not in a very good condition in the beginning of the season, but from January onwards a large number of catches of trout of excellent quality were taken from the lakes. Although there has been an improvement noticeable, it seems to me to be quite apparent that Lake Rotorua is overstocked with fish, and I am of opinion that the poor condition of many of the fish is attributable to this cause. Active steps have been taken to weed out .the unhealthy fish, and to permit only those that are in first-class condition to enter the main streams of lakes for spawning purposes. I feel sure that if this work is carried out carefully the result will be a noticeable improvement in the condition of the fish. Many of the statements regarding the number of poor-conditioned fish in the lake have been very greatly exaggerated. In order to supply additional trout-food, six cans, containing approximately 250,000 freshwater shrimps, were brought up from the Waikato River at Mercer, and liberated among the weed in the shallow portions of the south-east and south-west shores of the lake. It is anticipated that these will breed prolifically, and will replace, to a large extent, the diminishing koura. No further liberations of deer have taken place during the year, but several reports have been received of those presented by Mr. Chirnside and liberated on the northern shores of Lake Rotoiti last year, and apparently the herd is increasing. Pheasant-shooting has proved satisfactory this season. The bags were not large, but good .sport is available for those who are prepared to cover a fair amount of country. Quail are abundant, and give good sport for the gun. The payment of Is. per head for shags has resulted in the destruction of 1,193 shags during the year. In addition to this, the frequent shooting has driven the birds back to the sea-coast, which is perhaps more important than the actual number destroyed. Active and valuable assistance and co-operation has been received during the year from the Rotorua Rod and Gun Club. Town of Rotorua. A remarkable feature of the year's work is the fact that the debit balance of £456 at the beginning of the year, resulting from the overdraft taken over from the Town Council, has been converted into a credit balance of £49. This is not merely a paper credit, as the liabilities were paid off as far as possible before the close of the year, the outstanding accounts only amounting to £92, as compared with £205 at the beginning of the year; and, moreover, this credit balance has already increased since the close of the year. This result has only been obtained by very careful administration of the funds available, the closest possible economy, and energetic collection of the accounts. The total revenue for the year amounted to £4,756, which is £428 above the average (£4,328) for the past five years. The two main sources of this revenue are the rents from Crown leases (which are practically fixed for ninety-nine years at about £2,000 per annum) and the half-share of bath fees (which show an increase of about £200 for the year —viz., £1,492, as compared with £1,294 for the previous year). Receipts from other services amounted to £590, as compared with £580 for the previous five years. Under this heading a further energetic collection of outstanding accounts has reduced the amount owing from £365 at the beginning of the year to £235 at its close. Pound fees have increased from £50 to £78. Dog-registration tees have fallen from £34 to £22, on account of the reduction of the license fee for the year from 10s. to ss. License fees have increased from £369 to £391. Apart from the slight increase in the bath fees, the general revenue is thus practically stationary, owing to the fact that the main source of revenue —namely, the rents from Crown leases in the town —are fixed for ninety-nine years.

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The revenue of the town from all sources since its incorporation in 1901 has been as follows: —

The expenditure for the year under review was £4,249, details of which are shown below. The expenditure under the same heads for each year since the incorporation of the town is also shown for comparison : —

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Revenue. 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. , 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909. !rown rents 5ath fees ... Jightsoil fees 'ublicans' licenses leneral licenses .library fees 'ound fees ... )og-registration lundries £ 873 106 149 6 £ 1,198 474 279 168 38 21 29 14 15 £ 2,016 869 374 169 93 23 28 14 34 £ 1,940 1,269 411 165 81 34 31 22 22 £ 1,976 1,442 512 184 124 70 77 47 15 £ 1,870 1,203 517 186 169 62 39 36 25 £ 1,618 1,324 513 189 128 58 47 29 57 £ 2,277 1,294 950 182 189 81 50 34 93 £ 1,945 1,492 590 189 203 85 78 22 152 "9 15 '"e Total revenue 1,164 2,236 3,620 3,975 4,447 4,107 3,963 5,150 4,756

Expenditure. 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909. Works Nightsoil Fire-prevention Isolation hospital Licensing expenses ... Library Pound Charitable aid £ 330 186 £ 1,160 269 £ 2,797 363 £ 2,710 314 39 56 39 104 £ 3,195 412 153 46 20 62 £ 3,429 394 4 17 17 50 5 2 20 374 64 124 £ 2,723 417 151 38 37 170 £ 4,240 485 154 92 22 110 24 6 23 337 157 183 £ 2,538 462 117 356 11 13 15 26 151 30 10 51 328 122 74 Insurance ... Salaries Office expenses Sundries 98 16 74 192 52 105 13 334 55 104 1 19 337 47 42 1 20 335 102 101 18 334 170 70 Total expenditure ... 904 1,802 3,707 3,708 4,447 4,500 4,128 5,833 4,249 Realisable assets ... Permanent improvements 1,383 4,328 11,260 4,674 12,930 The realisable assets stand at £4,674, details of which are shown in the following statement:— Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Assets. £ s. d. Liabilities. £ s. d. Salanoe in bank — Unpresented cheques .. .. .. 30 3 0 General Account .. .. .. 80 0 9 Outstanding accounts owing .. .. 92 18 9 Cemetery Account .. .. .. 30 3 0 tutstanding accounts — Nightsoil fees.. .. .. '.. 235 19 8 Rent, boat-shed compartments .. .. 31 5 0 Rent, real property .. .. .. 115 0 Isolation hospital fees .. .. .. 203 10 0 Kerbing and channelling .. .. 410 0 0 roperty— Library building and equipment .. 1,100 0 0 Fire brigade tower and plant .. .. 500 0 0 Nightsoil buildings and plant .. .. 210 0 0 Pound-cottage, &o. .. .. .. 170 0 0 General working plant.. .. .. 536 0 0 Rowing club and boat-sheds .. .. 600 0 0 Marine parade—fencing, &c. .. .. 162 0 0 Gravel reserve—fencing, &o. .. .. 65 0 0 Office furniture and plans .. '.. 242 0 0 Cemetery chapel .. .. .. 190 0 0 Total .. .. .. £123 1 6 80 tree-guards .. .. .. 20 0 0 Balance of assets over liabilities 4,674 0 11 £4,797 2 5 £4,797 2 5

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lii addition to the realisable assets of £4,674, the value of the permanent improvements amount to £12,930, particulars of which are as follows : — £ 1,500 chains earth roads, at £2 ... ... ... ... ... 3,000 775 ~ pumice roads, at £4... ... ... ... ... 3,100 40 ~ metalled streets, at £20 ... ... ... ... 800 95 „ asphalted streets, at £28 ... ... ... ... 2,660 30 ~ wooden culverts, at £10 ... ... ... ... 300 60 yards steel culverts, at £1 ... ... . . ... ... 60 230 chains concrete kerbing, at £2 ss. ... ... ... ... 517 210 ~ concrete channelling, at £2 ss. ... ... ... 472 160 ~ tarred pavements, at £5 ... ... ... ... 800 Puarenga Bridge, Whakarewarewa ... ... ... ... 220 Alum Creek Bridge ... ... ... ... ... ... 36 Kuirau Bridge, Ohinemutu ... ... ... ... ... 55 Whakarewarewa Road grading ... ... ... ... ... 750 Swamp-drainage, 80 chains, at £2... ... ... ... ... 160 Total ... ... ... ... ... ...£12,930 Balance-sheet of the Rotorua Town Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1909. General Account. Receipts. £ s d. Expenditure. £ s. d Treasury— Balance, 31st March, 1908 .. .. 456 18 8 Half-share of bath fees .. .. 1,491 13 2 Administration — Rents of Crown lands .. .. .. 1,945 8 11 Salaries .. .. .. 215 0 0 Pees and fines (Magistrates' Court) .. 218 6 Printing and advertising .. .. 218 9 Pees— Legal expenses .. .. .. 52 110 Nightsoil service .. .. .. 589 13 5 Audit fees .. .. .. .. 17 0 0 Public pound .. .. .. .. 78 11 0 Office expenses, telephones, lighting .. 18 9 10 Dog-registration .. .. .. 22 10 0 Interest on bank overdraft .. .. 30 17 6 Licenses — Bank charges .. .. .. 0 10 0 Publicans' .. .. .. 189 0 0 Publio worksAuctioneers' .. .. .. .. 45 0 0 Streets and roads maintenance (labour Vehicle .. .. .. .. 79 0 0 and material) .. .. .. 2,538 13 0 Drivers' .. .. .. .. 718 0 Street lighting (two months) .. .. 26 5 0 Building permits .. .. .. 22 15 0 Fire-prevention— Circus .. .. .. .. 10 0 0 Payments to brigade (capitation) .. 70 18 0 Halls .. .. .. .. 10 10 0 New plant and uniforms .. .. 29 10 6 Wharfages .. .. .. .. 12 0 0 Telephone, lighting, &c. .. .. 16 15 6 Shooting Gallery .. .. .. 10 0 Nightsoil service— Billiard-rooms .. .. .. 6 0 0 Wages .. .. .. 363 5 10 Hawkers' .. .. .. .. 810 0 Fodder and plant .. .. .. 98 17 9 Rents— Public pound (maintenance and fodder) .. 29 10 7 Real property.. .. .. .. 50 11 0 Nuisance inspection (salary, &o.) .. 123 13 11 Boat-shed compartments .. .. 36 5 0 Miscellaneous— Dinghy-grid spaces .. .. .. 210 0 Dog-registration .. .. .. 316 0 Public Library— Insuranoe— Government subsidy .. .. .. 13 14 10 Accident .. .. .. .. 37 18 0 Subscriptions, rent of rooms, sale of Pire .. .. .. .. 13 7 0 catalogues, &o. .. .. .. 70 19 0 Public library— Material Sold—Pumice, tar, &c. .. .. 4 18 0 Salary .. .. .. .. 52 0 0 Contributions to works : Culverts, kerbing, Books and papers .. .. .. 83 9 8 and channelling, &c. .. .. 31 4 3 Lighting and fuel .. .. .. 15 15 6 Miscellaneous— Charitable aid .. .. .. 9 14 7 Refunds from Publio Account .. .. 22 15 5 Rent, Section 39, suburbs .. .. 4 0 0 „ Insurance .. .. .. 014 2 Compensation for acoident .. .. 5 0 0 Grazing fee .. .. .. .. 015 0 Refunds to Publio Account .. .. 32 3 0 Section 159, Municipal Corporations Act— American Fleet visit .. .. 2 2 0 Isolation Hospital— Rent .. .. .. .. 37 12 9 Nursing and board .. .. .. 265 8 0 Maintenance of building .. .. 53 3 9 Balance, 31st March, 1909 .. .. 49 17 9 £4,750 14 8 £4,756 14 8 An important departure in connection with the administration of the Town of Rotorua has been made during the year by giving the Department, in its municipal capacity, the power of a Maori Council, for the administration of the Maori villages within the Town of Rotorua. Some of these villages have been in a very insanitary condition in the past, and consequently somewhat of a menace to the health of the town. Maori Committees have been set up in each village to assist the Department in its administration, and the Rev. F. A. Bennett has been appointed Secretar)' to the Committees and Sanitary Inspector. The revenue from the villages is at present limited to dog-registration fees and billiard-room licenses, the total of which will not amount to more than £15 per annum, and will not by any means cover the cost of administration, which will have to be met out of the Town Account. The building now being used as an isolation hospital for fever and other infectious-diseases cases is altogether inadequate for the purpose, and it is a matter of some urgency that another and more suitable building should be provided,

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ROTORUA.

The revenue received from all sources at this resort increased by the large sum of £3,026 7s. 6d., the actual figures being—l9o7-8, £9,651 12s. lid.; 1908-9, £12,678 os. sd. New Bath Buildings. —These were brought into use towards the end of the year, and have been largely patronised. That these baths are greatly appreciated is evident from the fact that although practically open for only half the year, and notwithstanding that all the old baths were also kept in use, the total bath receipts have increased by £612 14s. 9d. Sanatorium and Hospital Buildings. —An additional ward was added to the sanatorium during the year, but the pressure on the accommodation has been as great as before, and many patients have had to be refused admission owing to beds not being available. Mineral-water Supply. — The supply of " Priest " water from the new spring has proved most satisfactory, both as to quantity, quality, and temperature, and this spring will evidently suffice for all needs, however much we increase our bathing establishment. The sanatorium-grounds, comprising gardens, tennis and croquet lawns, and bowling-greens, have been maintained in excellent condition during the year. Tea-house. —The receipts amounted to £661 15s. 5d., a slight increase on the previous years' figures. Waimangu Bound Trip. —This trip continues to increase in favour. The receipts during the year were £2,839 os. 6d., being £1,007 18s. 9d. more than during the previous year. The receipts at the Waimangu Accommodation-house were £190 195., an increase of £40 on the previous year's figures. Whakarewarewa. —A new Spout Bath has been built, at a cost of £1,200, providing four spout or douche—one large plunge—and three private baths, with necessary dressing-rooms and conveniences. These supply a want that has been very marked since the old baths fell into decay. Waikiti, Pohutu, Kereru, and Papakura Geysers continue to play regularly, but Wairoa Geyser has been quiescent for some time. The model pa is steadily progressing, many of the buildings having been completed, and others are well in hand, and it is hoped that when completed Maoris skilled in the ancient crafts of carving, weaving, plaiting, &c, will be induced to live there and carry on these avocations, thus preserving these old-time industries from the extinction which at present threatens them. Electric Light. —The electric-light system has worked very successfully during the year, the plant being operated up to its maximum load, while there was an entire absence of serious breakdowns; 96,000 units were used by private consumers and for street-lighting, and in connection with baths and public buildings. Valuing the current supplied for public purposes at 3Jjd. per unit, the plant has, after providing for working costs, earned per cent, on the capital cost. In order to meet the ever-increasing demand, another wing dam was thrown out at the intake flume at Okere, whereby the capacity of the existing turbines were increased from 95 to 105 kilowatts, and new plant has been ordered by which the capacity of the present works will be increased to 150 kilowatts. Orders for the full amount of current obtainable after installation of the new machinery are already in hand, so that the question of a further extension of the plant will require consideration in the near future. Up to February last the Government has been supplying public lighting for the Town of Rotorua without charge. It was then considered that the time had arrived when the town was in a position to contribute to the cost of this service, and it was therefore decided to make a charge of £157 10s. per annum, which is a very moderate one for the amount of current consumed. Drainage System. —There are now 190 premises connected with the sewers, and an additional 122 are within reach, and will be connected as opportunity offers. The connections already made have effected a marked improvement in the health and comfort of the town and its popularity amongst visitors. Water-supply. —Twenty-nine new consumers were connected during the year, making a total of 255. Valuing the 56,000,000 gallons of water used for public purposes during the year at 6d. per 1,000 gallons, and after providing for working-costs, the water-supply system has earned 7| per cent, on the capital cost. Gardens. —The Rotorua Public Gardens are now probably as fine and attractive as any south of the Line, but I regret to have to say that comparatively little attention has been paid in the past to the cultivation of native trees and shrubs. A nursery has now been established to which 899 native trees, of thirty-five varieties, have been transplanted from the bush, and about 95 per cent, of which have struck and will be available for planting during the current year. This work will make the gardens and parks of much greater interest to visitors. Train Service between Wellington and Rotorua. Under the present time-table passengers travelling from Wellington to Rotorua have to wait at Frankton Junction from 3.38 a.m. till 1.30 p.m., and when travelling in the reverse direction the wait at the junction is from 1.27 p.m. until 12.27 a.m. on the following day. Apart from the fact of the loss of several hours on the trip, the times of arrival at the junction on the up journey and the departure on the down journey are most inconvenient for travellers, and strong complaints are being received from tourists travelling to or from Rotorua of the absence of a better connection with the Main Trunk express trains. I think the question of providing a train for Rotorua, to leave Frankton Junction shortly after arrival of the up-express, is one that merits consideration, if it be desired to stimulate the traffic to Rotorua. A light passenger-train could leave Frankton immediately after arrival of the upexpress, and return with passengers in time to connect with the down-express the same day. Tourists travelling between Auckland and Rotorua do not need to use the Main Trunk line trains, as they are specially catered for by a good service.

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Te Aroha. The popularity of Te Aroha as a health and pleasure resort is steadily growing. The receipts for the year ending 31st March, 1909, amounted to £1,751 lis. 3d., an increase of £86 Bs. Id. as compared with the return for 1907-8. During the year a very pretty and substantial tea-kiosk has been erected in a commanding position in the sanatorium grounds, and has supplied " a long-felt want " both to visitors and residents. The revenue received from this source for the period during which the kiosk has beeir. open—viz., Ist December to 31st March—was £77 4s. 3d. During the year a choice collection of carnations, salvias, begonias, &c, was donated by H. Brett, Esq., of Lake Takapuna, Auckland, for beautifying the grounds; also a splendid collection of roses by F. W. Boynton, Esq., Fort Street, Auckland, to initiate a rose garden. Waitomo and Ruakuri Caves. The number of visitors to these sights was well maintained throughout this year, although it has been found that the completion of the Main Trunk Railway has had a tendency to draw away visitors who previously broke their journey and stayed the night at Waitomo. The house-accommodation had to be supplemented by the use of two house tents and a marquee during the season. The visitors numbered 1,245, against 1,227 during 1907-8; and the receipts £656 17s. 5d., compared with £584 ss. lOd. during 1907-8, an increase of £72 lis. 7d. An up-to-date accommodation-house is now being built, and it is anticipated that next season will see a largely increased number of visitors, and a correspondingly larger revenue from this resort. Both the Waitomo and Ruakuri Caves are in good order, and the tracks giving access to them have received considerable attention during the year. Tongariro National Park. The completion of the Main Trunk Railway during the year has brought this park within easy reach of visitors, and large numbers of people have taken the opportunity of climbing the group of volcanic peaks within the area of the park—viz., Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe. The latter was towards the close of the year in a state of unusual activity, and erupted vast quantities of fine ash which, carried by the prevailing winds, were scattered over a large tract of country. Up to the time of writing this mountain continues, at intervals, to give further evidence that it has not yet settled down to its normal condition of subdued activity. The accommodation available for visitors in the vicinity consists of two rough huts, which are quite inadequate to the needs of the rapidly increasing number of people visiting the district, so that the question of providing a suitable accommodation-house is one that will require consideration in the near future. Taranaki. The visitors to the Egmont National Park numbered 6,150, as against 5,100 during 1907-8, a substantial increase of 1,050. An addition of six rooms has been made to the "Tourist Cottage" at Dawson's Falls, and several improvements have been made at other houses by the Domain Board. A considerable amount of new road formation and improvement to existing roads and tracks has been carried out. The report of the Chairman of the Board appears in the appendices. The Domain Board recovers a subsidy of £200 annually from this Department. Lake Waikaremoana. The number of visitors during the year was 183, and the revenue £493 15s. 2d., a slight improvement on last year's figures. This resort would prove more popular if the means of access were improved, as at present the time taken to reach it is excessive. The fishing this season has been excellent, fish up to 11 lb. having been taken, and the average was 4 lb. 8 oz. The red deer are increasing very fast, and have been seen in many parts of the district, so that deer-stalking may soon be added to the list of attractions in this beautiful neighbourhood. Te Puia Hot Springs. The number of visitors to these springs during the year was 1,020, and the receipts £355 9s. Id. The visitors show a small decrease on the previous year's figures, but the revenue increased by £14 10s. 9d. The accommodation-house is old and in bad order, and this fact, with others, accounts for the restricted business done. Some improvements have been effected during the year, such as fencing, bush-clearing, and grass-seeding, and when a new house is erected there is no doubt that the visitors will largely increase. The surrounding district gives promise tif rapid progress. Tahawera Hot Springs. These springs are greatly appreciated by the people of Napier and adjacent districts, who are now able to get a bath under comfortable conditions in a well-appointed building, in place of the tumble-down structure and primitive bath formerly in use. Owing to the springs being in such an awkward position—viz., on a steep rock face overlooking the river—trouble has been experienced with landslips, which will necessitate some protective work being provided.

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Morere Hot Springs. The Department's proportion of the bath receipts from the springs amounted to £71 155., a slight increase on the figures for the previous year. Further work has been carried on during the year in the direction of completing the fence round the reserve, the adjoining owner of land paying half the cost. . Hanmer Hot Springs. Owing to the heavy expense of working, it was decided to close the accommodation-house on the 30th November, 1908, and convert it into a sanatorium for the sole use of patients requiring medical treatment. It was opened for this purpose on the Ist December, 1908, but as the resident doctor did not take up his duties until the 6th February the institution did not get into thorough working-order under the new auspices until that date. Dr. Herbert Chesson, M.R.C.S. England, D.P.M. London, has been appointed Resident Medical Officer, and is assisted by an efficient nursing staff. The total receipts from all' sources for 1908-9 were £1,609 7s. 9d., a decrease of £566 6s. 6d. on the previous year's figures. The decrease is, however, due to the changed purpose of the building and reduction in fees charged. The conversion of the accommodation-house into a sanatorium necessitated numerous internal alterations, some of which have been completed, whilst others are still under way. The bathhouses have also undergone repairs and alterations, provision having been made for the fitting in of a step-down bath and a needle bath in the male massage-house. The new high-pressure water-service to the sanatorium and the Township of Hanmer provides an abundant supply of fresh water for all purposes, including protection from fire, hydrants for this purpose having been placed in position round the various buildings in the sanatorium grounds. A revenue of £58 12s. was collected from the township for water rates. The grounds have been kept in excellent order, and have been greatly appreciated by the public. Pukaki House. The number of visitors and the revenue show a large increase over the previous year's figures —viz.: 1908-9—Visitors, 889; revenue, £825 Is. 2d. 1907-B—Visitors, 690; revenue, £625 14s. lOd. Increase—Visitors, 199; revenue, £199 6s. 4d. Several minor improvements have been carried out during the year, and the house and premises have been maintained in good order and condition. Mount Cook Hermitage. There was a large increase of revenue at this resort during the current year, the receipts being £1,796 10s., against £1,405 12s. 6d. during the previous season —an increase of £390 17s. 6d.; whilst the number of visitors also showed an increase—viz., 309 in 1908—9, against 261 in 1907-8; the number of visitors from oversea numbered 101. The accommodation during the season again proved inadequate, and many intending visitors could not come owing to no rooms being available at the time they required them. The old parts of the house is showing signs of decay. This, coupled with the inadequate accommodation, makes the erection of a new house an urgent necessity. Owing to the unusually dry summer, the watersupply failed, and for three weeks a supply had to be carted from the spring at Governor Bush, which is adjacent to the proposed site of the new house. The chamois were seen only once during the season in the Hooker Valley, and nothing was seen of the thar. Chief Guide Graham reports : — " In accordance with instructions, I proceeded from Wellington to the Hermitage, arriving here on the 28th October. Considering the heavy snow-fall which had covered the whole of the Mackenzie Plains during the winter, I was surprised to find so little snow remaining in the valleys and on the lower ranges round the Hermitage. The absence of frost during the winter, followed by a mild and warm spring, I believe, was the cause of the snow dispersing so rapidly. " Immediately on arrival at the Hermitage I made an inspection of all tracks in the vicinity, also visiting the Tasman Valley, going through to the Malte Brun Hut. The Ball and Malte Brun huts I found to be in splendid condition, both being quite free from snow, and had received no damage during the winter. The glacier-tracks were also in good order, few slips having occurred; very little repairs were needed to make them passable for horse traffic. " There was a considerable increase of visitors to Mount Cook this summer, and the guiding staff was kept very busy during the season, especially from the latter end of December till the end of March. " The summer, on the whole, was a warm and dry one, and gave favourable opportunities for visitors to make excursions to the different glaciers and various points of interest in the vicinity. The unsurpassed beauty of the Upper Tasman Glacier and the magnificent view obtained from the Malte Brun Hut is deservedly becoming more and more popular, and is attracting each year an increasing number of visitors. " In company with Mr. Dennistoun, of Peel Forest, I crossed the divide by Graham's Saddle on the 6th December, in fourteen hours and a half, from Malte Brun Hut to Waiho Gorge, reduc-

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ing the time of all previous records by several hours, the object of the trip being to definitely locate a pass, crossed the summer before by Mr. Dennistoun, which connects the head waters of the Rangitata on the eastern with that of the Wataroa and Perth Valley on the western side of the divide. Proceeding north for twenty miles by the main road, we reached Wataroa. Here we secured the services of Mr. Gunn, and started for the head of the river. A very interesting day was spent at the head of the valley taking observations and fixing Mr. Dennistoun's new pass. The party then returned to the Hermitage by way of the Sealey Saddle on to the Godley Glacier, and thence by the Classen, crossing the head neve of the Murchison Glacier, back to the Tasman Valley and Malte Brun Hut, then on to the Hermitage, the return journey occupying three days. This is the first time this expedition has been made, and affords a most interesting round trip. " A considerable number of climbing expeditions were also undertaken during the season, and some new and interesting ascents were made. Mr. Claude McDonald, New South Wales, a member of the English Alpine Club, accompanied by Guide Murphy and myself, made the first complete traverse of Mount Sealey (8,631 ft. high), Malte Brun (10,421 ft.), and first ascent of Coronet Peak (9,263 ft.). He also made, during February, two attempts on Mount Cook (12,349 ft.) from the Hooker Glacier; both, unfortunately, resulted, in failures through bad weather. On the occasion of the last attempt we were forced to turn back within 800 ft. of the summit, making our descent by the Lindo Glacier and grand plateau to the Ball Hutt. On the 9th February Dr. Vollman, of Peru, a member of the German and Swiss Alpine Clubs, with Guide Thomson, made the ascent of the Nun's Veil (8,975 ft.), securing some excellent.photographs. Several day's later Dr. Vollmann, Dr. Teichmann, A. Graham, and myself were successful in making the first ascent on Mount Green (9,305 ft.) and Mount Walter (9,507 ft.), situated on the divide at the head of the Tasman Glacier. On the 4th March Mr. Earle, England, a member of the English Alpine Club, with J. Clark, A. Graham of the Geological Survey, and myself, made the ascent of Mount Cook (12,349 ft.) by a new route from the Hooker Glacier, climbing by a rib of rock on the western face of the mountain, directly under the main summit; descending by the north-west arete to Green's Saddle, and thence by the narrow couloir down to the Hooker Glacier back to our bivouac, the trip occupying fifteen hours and a half. For the purpose of securing photographs, and taking some glacial observations for the Geological Survey, J. Clark and A. Graham, accompanied by Mr. Earle, were crossing the divide at the head of the Mueller, and kindly invited Captain Head, of England, with Guides Thomson and myself, to join them. Accordingly, on the Bth March the party crossed by a high col (8,500 ft.) between Mount Burns and Dwarf Peak, making a new pass connecting the Mueller Glacier on the east with that of the McKerrow and Douglas Glaciers on the western slopes of the divide. This is a magnificent trip, affording a wonderful view of the immense nh't and icefalls of the Douglas Glacier, which descends from the western face of Mount Sefton, forming into huge serac which avalanche over high rock precipices of 2,000 ft. on to the reconstructed glaciers below with continued and incessant roar. While in the Douglas Valley I fortunately found a natural rock-shelter which will make a safe and comfortable camp in any weather. This knowledge will be most useful when arranging trips to this valley in the future. On the 18th March Mr. Earle and myself made the ascent and traverse of a hitherto unclimbed and unnamed peak (9,731 ft.) immediately to the south of Mount Malte Brun and north of Mount Chudleigh, on the Malte Brun Range. Mr. Earle, using a first-climber's privilege, has named the peak ' Aiguillas Rouge' (Red Peak). It affords most interesting and enjoyable climbing over steep but very good rock, giving some fine examples of rock scrambling. It is within easy reach of Malte Brun Hut, " The most energetic lady to visit Mount Cook, and who holds the record among lady alpinists for ascents and alpine-pass work, is Mrs. Lindon, of Geelong. Accompanied by Mr. Lindon and myself, she crossed Graham's Saddle (8,800 ft.) from Malter Brun Hut to Waiho Gorge (Franz Josef Glacier) in eighteen hours and a half, returning down the coast to Karangarua and back to the Hermitage by Copland Pass. This is the first time Graham's Saddle has been attempted by a lady. Mrs: Lindon has the well-deserved distinction of being the first to cross the divide by this route. Mr. and Mrs. Lindon also made the ascent of the Nun's Veil (8,975 ft.). "It is very pleasing to note the growing interest in alpine expeditions on the West Coast, several parties having crossed to the Hermitage by the Copland Pass and Graham's Saddle during the season. " The accommodation at the huts in the Tasman Valley is becoming more and more taxed each year. It will be necessary in the near future to enlarge these huts to supply the extra accommodation needed for this trip. " This season has been a very busy and satisfactory one, both for the increase in returns and also for the extra number of interesting high ascents which have been made." Lake Wakatipu. The traffic to Lake Wakatipu and adjacent districts goes on increasing year by year, and was again heavy during the past summer, accommodation at Queenstown being very difficult to procure during the height of the season. , The park continues to prove a source of great pleasure and attraction to visitors and residents alike. During the year a rustic bridge has been built across the lagoon, replacing a structure that was much decayed. Paradise and grey ducks have also been liberated in the grounds, and are a source of great interest, and also attract many of their species (wild) to the lagoon. The grounds generally have been steadily improved, and are being maintained in good order. The

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receipts from the playing-greens and miscellaneous sources during the year totalled £72 10s. 6d., against £44 16s. 3d. for the previous year. By-laws for the regulation and control of the Queenstown reserves have been promulgated during the year. There is still a demand for improved steamers for the lake traffic. Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau and the Fiordland National Park. The tourist traffic to these districts shows a steady increase each year. The total receipts this year were £2,243 lis. 10d., as against £2,114 18s. 9d. for the previous year. The traffic on Lake Manapouri has been about the same as during the past two seasons, many people omitting the trip to this lake on account of the coach service not being more frequent. Native-bird Life. —Captain Dore reports : " There appears to be no notable increase in bird life generally. Round the lake pigeons and kakas seem to be holding their own, and grey and paradise ducks have increased." Weasels are increasing everywhere, and the ground-birds are entirely at their mercy. Glade House and Milford Track have again been well patronised, 484 visitors having passed through, as against 413 during 1907-8; the revenue being £903 2s. 7d., against £769 2s. for the previous season ; an increase of £134 os. 7d. An interesting point in connection with the Milford Track is the number of ladies who this season made the journey—viz., 137. Nearly every visitor expressed satisfaction with the methods adopted by the Department to cater for their comfort, and there is no doubt that when the attractions of this tour are better known the number of visitors will largely increase. A light suspension bridge for foot traffic only over the Arthur River was completed during the year, the length of span being 200 ft. Owing to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the site, this proved a work of considerable difficulty, as the materials had to be taken round to Milford Sound by steamer, then boated to Lake Ada, and finally packed on men's backs to the required position. Unfortunately, during a flood about the end of March the piers of the bridge canted, allowing the flood waters of the river to reach the decking, with the result that the whole structure has been greatly injured, but it will soon be repaired. A foot-track has been constructed between Lake Wakatipu and Glade House, Lake Te Anau. It was completed near the close of last season, and was made use of by some few parties. It should be largely used when suitable huts are available at convenient distances along the tracks. Easter Excursion to West Coast Sounds. At the instance of the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, the Union Company arranged for their s.s. " Talune " to run an excursion from Dunedin to these Sounds at the cheap fare of £5 return. The accommodation was fully booked long before the date of departure, and many people were disappointed in not being able to make the trip. Leaving Dunedin on the evening of the Bth April, with 230 passengers, the s.s. " Talune " sailed direct to Preservation Inlet, thence to Doubtful Sound, visiting Crooked Arm, Smith Sound, Hall Arm, and Deep Cove ; thence she proceeded to Breaksea Sound, via Acheron Passage and Wet Jacket Arm, and up Dusky Sound; and on the return journey visited Preservation Inlet, Cuttle Cove, and Long Sound, reaching Dunedin at 8 a.m. on the 13th April. This excursion proved so successful from every point of view that there is no doubt it will become an annual fixture, and that next year larger steamers will have to be provided to accommodate the large number of people desirous of viewing the majestic and unique scanery of the West Coast Sounds. Stewart Island. f The tourist traffic to this resort has been greater than ever this season, and complaints regarding lack of accommodation on the island have been very frequent. By the courtesy of the Secretary, Bluff Harbour Board, I am able to quote the number of visitors who went over to the island from the Bluff during the last three years, viz. : 1907, 2,277; 1908, 2,476; 1909, 2,632. Native Bird Sanctuaries. Little Barrier Island. The weather during the breeding season was very favourable, and numbers of young birds were to be seen on the flat and near the house. There is ample evidence of increase in bird-life, and the sanctuary is undoubtedly filling its mission. There has been no evidence of any trespassers visiting the island during the past year. Owing to the mild spring, food for the birds was abundant, the various shrubs being covered with fruit, especially the Coprosmas. Resolution Island. Early in the year Mr. R. Henry, the Custodian, received from the Lands Department the appointment of Custodian at K.tpiti Island, and Lieutenant Goldfinch was appointed to Resolution Island in his place, arriving there early in October. He reports, under date 15th December : Wekas and penguins are very numerous, and a few black swans and ducks are to be seen. 30th January : The penguins are now leaving the Sound for the sea, a few wood-pigeons visit the island to feed on the pine berries, and some kakas are

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still about, but during the time the rata was flowering they were to be seen in hundreds. Bell birds and tuis are numerous, but I have only seen a few native thrushes; tits and fantails abound. During April the Government decided to withdraw the Custodian from Resolution Island, and Lieutenant Goldfinch accordingly left on the sth May.

APPENDIX 11. REPORT OF GOVERNMENT BALNEOLOGIST, ROTORUA. Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Government Sanatorium, Rotorua, Sir,— 11th May, 1909. I have the honour to present my report for the year ending 31st March, 1909. New Bath Buildings. —These buildings were opened in August, 1908, on the date of the visit of the American Fleet, but, though formally opened, the baths were very far from completed, and were in nothing like working-order until December. A great many difficulties, some unexpected, but for the most part anticipated, were met with in pumping and conducting the acid mineral water. These difficulties led to a considerable expenditure both of labour and material, but they have now, I believe, been satisfactorily overcome by the use of lead-lined iron pipes and of rubber hose, and the cost of maintenance in the future should be very materially reduced. Mineral-water Supply. —The supply of " Priest" water from the new spring has proved most satisfactory, both as to quantity, quality, and temperature, and this spring will evidently suffice for all our needs, however much we increase our bathing establishment. The Spout Baths, Whakarewarewa. —The old and dilapidated Spout Baths have been replaced by a suite of four Spout and four Oil Baths, with waiting-rooms, dressing-rooms, attendant's room, and offices ; the whole housed in a substantial and picturesque building. The Sanatoiium. —ln spite of the additional wing which has been this year available, the pressure on the sanatorium beds has been as great as ever, and we have been unable to supply the demand for accommodation. In estimating the value of the treatment given at the sanatorium and baths, I would wish to particularly emphasize the point that this value cannot by any means be measured by the cash receipts. The greater part of the value is not shown in cash at all. Thus, the majority of cases treated at the sanatorium are those of chronic crippling disease —disease which utterly incapacitates a labouring man from manual work, and disease for which no similar adequate treatment is provided in any other hospital in the country. We will suppose a man of fifty crippled with rheumatism, and unable to earn his living: his actual cost of maintenance to the community can hardly be reckoned at less than £50 a year, and, in addition, the country loses his services as a worker; so that it is putting a very low valuation on his life to say that it is worth £500 to the community, or, in other words, that by restoring a worker of fifty to useful work we save the country at least £500 on a life of average length. Apart from the fifty-eight emergency or hospital cases, 182 patients were treated at the sanatorium during the past year, 155 of whom were so far improved as to be able to return to work, and of those a very large proportion would be men whose working lives might fairly be regarded as at least equal in value to the hypothetical case quoted above. The Emergency Wards have been busier than ever before, as they constitute the only substitute for a hospital in a very large district. It is quite obvious that these two small rooms and our make-shift operating outfit will not suffice much longer for the needs of a large and growing district, more especially as the sawmilling industry is firmly established and brings its inevitable accidents. i The Isolation Hospital, a make-shift and dilapidated structure, is certainly, in its present state, totally unfit for the purpose for which it is used. It needs either thorough renovation or rebuilding, and, serving as it does so large a district, it is seldom empt}' for long together. The question is one of real urgency. The Season. —As far as I can judge, the number of visitors to Rotorua has been greater than in any former year, and this, I think, may be attributed partly to increased bathing facilities, and partly to the completion of the Main Trunk line. Until, however, radical alterations are made in the time-table, so as to eliminate the intolerable delay at Frankton Junction for passengers to and from the south, we cannot possibly expect to reap the full benefit of the railway. Orchestra. —During the season an orchestra has been engaged by the Department to play in the gardens in the day and in the " pump-room "of the baths in the evening. I think that the provision of the music, by brightening up the place, has a good deal to do with the prolongation of " the season," and has indirectly kept up the bath receipts to a high figure right up to the time of writing (May). Nationality of Patients. The total number of new patients who consulted me for baths treatment, apart from the sanatorium, was 620. As far as can 'be ascertained, of these ninety-five came from Australia, forty from Great Britain, and thirty-five from other countries. I have, &c, Arthur S. Wohlmann, Government Balneologist

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Statistics. Receipts for the Year ending 31st March, 1909. 1909. 1908. £ s. d. £ s. d. Sanatorium fees ... ... ... ... ... 1,287 Oil 1,055 16 3 Out-patients' fees ... ... ... ... ... 753 5 0 724 12 5 Bath fees ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,052 13 3 2,577 9 0 Mineral water ... ... ... ... ... 188 14 5 147 16 10 Massage and electrical treatment ... ... ... 336 15 9 199 5 3 Players' fees ... ... ... ... ... 215 3 3 179 13 6 Miscellaneous receipts ... ... ... ... 116 4 2 4 8 4 Total ... ... ... ... £5,949 16 9 £4,889 1 7 / - Value of free consultations : Out-patients, £120. Total Number of Baths and Special Treatments. Number. Value. £ s. d. Paid for ... ... ... ... ... ...111,856 3,59115 5 Sanatorium ... ... ... ... ... ... 13,634 878 8 2 Free patients ... ... ... ... ... ... 939 75 0 0 Total ... ... ... 126,429 £4,545 3 7 APPENDIX 111. REPORT OF ENGINEER IN CHARGE, ROTORUA, ON WORKS. Sir, — Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Rotorua, 7th June, 1909. I have the honour to report on the works under my supervision, as follows : — Apart from municipal and acclimatisation matters, the departmental functions under my control are as follows: (1) Electric-light supply, Rotorua; (2) water-supply, Rotorua; (3) drainage, Rotorua; (4) reserves, Rotorua, Whakarewarewa, &c.; (5) model Maori pa, Whakarewarewa; (6) bath and sanatorium buildings, Rotorua; (7) wharves and lake services, Rotorua and Rotoiti; (8) Waitomo Caves and Accommodation-house building; (9) Te Aroha Bath buildings. Electric Light. The electric-light system has operated very successfully during the year. Owing to the requirements of the new baths, a partial day-supply has been instituted, the hours of operation now being from 2.30 p.m. until sunrise, instead of from sunset to sunrise as heretofore. The total output and revenue for the year has been as follows : — Units. Revenue. £ Private lighting ... ... ... ... ... 72,600 1819 Street lighting ... ... ... ... ... 12,000 39 Bath buildings ... ... ... ... ... 8,000 Sanatorium ... ... ... ... ... 2,000 Tea-house ... ... ... ... ... 600 State nurser\ r ... ... ... ... ... 800 96,000 1,858 Valuing the current supplied to the public buildings (11,400 units) at 3|d. per unit, the plant has earned £166 from such supplies, making the total earnings £2,024. The working-costs during the year have been as follows : — £ Salaries ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 543 Wages and materials ... ... ... ... ... ... 370 Proportion of office salaries and expenses, say ... ... ... 200 £1,113 leaving a working-profit of £911, or 4J per cent, on a capital expenditure of about £20,000. 3—H. 2.

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Pending the installation of the additional plant now on order, every effort has been made to meet the demands for current for private lighting. The growth of this demand during the past four years is shown in the following table:— Units. Revenue. £ 1906 ... ... ... ... ... ... 46,000 £1,150 1907 ... ... ... ... ... ... 56,240 £1,406 1908 ... ... ... ... ... ... 65,930 £1,689 1909 ... ... ... ... ... ... 74,320 £1,858 In order to meet this increasing demand with an already overloaded plant, a second wing dam was thrown out at the head-gates of the intake-flume at Okere, raising the water-level another 6'in., to a total head of 15 ft., and increasing the maximum output of the plant from 95 up to 105 kilowatts, with both generators fully loaded. In order to still further assist in meeting this demand, all the arc lamps in the streets have been replaced by clusters of metallic filament lamps, considerably reducing the consumption of current. In addition, the work of putting meters in all the premises has been pushed on. These have the effect of largely reducing the consumption in premises formerly charged a fixed rate based on an estimated average consumption of current. As a result of these measures eighteen new consumers have been connected to the mains during the year, bringing in a minimum increase of £54 in the annual revenue. New distributing-mains have been run along the Ohinemutu Road, giving four additional street-lights at important corners, extending to the Utuhina Bridge, and through Whakarewarewa as far as the new baths, supplying these baths as well as several private consumers and four new street-lamps. The work of preparing for the installation of the new plant on order has been pushed on. The raising of the sides of the head-race at Okere power-house and the erection of wing dams on either side of the river will enable the existing flume to carry the increased amount of water required, and has in the meanwhile increased the capacity of the existing turbines from 85 to 105 kilowatts. The new turbine will have a capacity of an additional 100 kilowatts, but when it is installed I would recommend that only two machines—the new 100 kilowatt generator and one of the old 50 kilowatt generators—be run at a time, and that this output (150 kilowatts) be taken as the maximum output of the plant. This would enable one 50-kilowatt generator to be kept in reserve ready to put on to the load in case of difficulty with either of the others. At present we are taking very serious risks of a serious stoppage by operating the whole of our plant at full load every night in the year, and it is only by the utmost vigilance and attention and unusual good fortune that we have carried on so far without disaster. On two occasions during the year serious breakages occurred, but in both cases temporary repairs were effected before the following evening, and the supply carried on without interruption. Regarding 150 kilowatts as our maximum output with the new plant installed, this limit will he reached within a few weeks, and the question of further extensions will require to be considered at once. The alterations in the transmission line now being effected will give a capacity of 400 kilowatts, and the switchboards specified with the plant on order provide for extension to a total capacity of 1,000 kilowatts. A very serviceable workshop has been erected at the Okere power-house, and equipped with a lathe, which will enable all minor repairs to be effected on the spot, and will obviate the necessity, in case of such minor repair, of leaving the town in darkness for three or four days while the necessary replace parts are ordered from Auckland. Water-supply System. The water-supply system has been maintained very satisfactorily. During the year twentynine new consumers were connected to the mains, making a total of 255. The revenue has been as follows: 298 domestic supplies, at £1 10s., £447; 40 hose standards, at 10s., £20; 58 extraordinary supplies taking 8,520,000 gallons, at Is. per 1,000 gallons, £426: total, £893. In addition, about 50,000,000 gallons are used by the baths, 4,000,000 for street-watering, and 2,000,000 for garden-watering, and for these no credit is given. Valuing this supply at 6d. per 1,000 gallons, this credit would amount to £1,400. The expenditure has been —Salaries, £75; wages and material, £202; proportion of office salaries and expenses, say, £200 : total, £477. The working profit thus amounts to £416, or If per cent, on the capital cost of £24,000, in addition to the free supply to the baths, streets, and gardens, which is worth another 6 per cent, on the outlay. No stoppage in the supply occurred during the year, and complete precautions have been taken to give an emergency supply through the old flume from the Puarenga River in case of serious trouble with the wooden mains. The old cast-iron mains have been connected to the new wooden ones by means of an 8 in. valve, ready to open up at once on such an emergency; the old flume has been repaired and put into working-order for its whole length of one mile; and a flush-ing-valve put in the old main immediately above its connection with the new main. This valve is left constantly open, so that the water from the old pipes, if suddenly required, will be fresh and clean. The reticulations laid by the Public Works Department provides only for the inner area of the town, between the railway-station and the lake. The whole of the suburbs south of the railwaystation were unprovided for, and are being built up rapidly. The immediate demands of these suburbs have been met during the year by the laying of a quarter of a mile of 4 in. main and about two miles of 1 in. pipe. Considerable extensions will be required in this direction, and 3 in. and 4 in. mains will be necessary for the permanent supply in order to render the system .available for fire-prevention purposes, for which the 1 in. mains are, of course, of no service.

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During the first year of operation a large number of leaks were experienced. Three serious ones and about three hundred minor ones were repaired, and this has raised the maintenance cost to a considerable extent. This was quite anticipated, with some fifteen miles of newly laid wood stave pipes, but as the timber swells the pipes are taking up a more permanent condition, and the leakages are becoming less. In the very limited areas in which the soil is impregnated with sulphur, the binding wires on the wood stave pipes are rapidly corroded, and the three serious breakdowns have been due to this cause. In repairing them they have been enclosed in concrete, which should protect them indefinitely. Drainage System. The drainage system has operated satisfactorily during the year, the quantities of sewerage pumped being as follows: 1908—April, 820,000 gallons; May, 850,000 gallons; June, 990,(100 gallons; July, 870,000 gallons; August, 740,000 gallons ;• September, 740,000 gallons; October, 810,000 gallons; November, 850,000 gallons; December, 900,000 gallons. 1909 — January, 990,000 gallons; February, 850,000 gallons; March, 970,000 gallons. There are now 112 private houses connected to the sewers, for which £1 each per annum is charged; and sixty connections in hotels and boardinghouses, for which payment is made by means of the meter charge on the water used; and eighteen connections in the baths, sanatorium, and other departmental connections for which no credit is allowed. These charges were only fixed at the end of the year, and no revenue was therefore collected last year. The cost of pumping and maintenance for the year was £325, in addition to a share of the office salaries and expenses—say, another £100. There are still about 320 dry pans in the town, of which about 122 are within reach of the sewers, and will consequently be connected up in due course, thus increasing the revenue. The connections already made have effected a very marked improvement m the health and comfort of the town and its'popularity amongst the visitors. Reserves. The reserves under the control of the Department will always constitute the main attraction of the town to the visitors, and their maintenance is one of our most important functions. _ The expenditure in upkeep has been about £2,174, which has been distributed approximately as follows: Rotorua Gardens, £1,858; Pukeroa Park, £20; Kuirau Reserve, £4; Whakarewarewa Reserve, £180; ,\rikikapakapa Reserve, nil; Hamaurana Reserve, £53; OkereL Keeer J e > nil; Waiotapu Reserve, nil; Medical Officer's Reserve, £21 ; Courthouse Garden, £26; Post-office Garden, £12: total, £2,174. . The question of making these reserves self-supporting ,s an important one lie mam souic< of revenue hitherto has been from the playing-fees in the gardens, winch yielded £214 last year. This is a steadily increasing amount, the returns for the past tour years being as follows: 190b, £120; 1907, £137; 1908, £179; 1909, £214. _ , " Improvements are proposed in the croquet-greens which should add considerably to 11,. revenue from this source In the meanwhile the tennis and bowling greens have been maintained in the best condition, and have fully justified the recent increase in Hie price of the season tickets for these games. „„ , .. ~. i , Various improvements have been made in the gardens. The bowling pavilion and sports ticket-office buildings, which seriously obstructed the view of the new baths, have been moved to more convenient positions, and a camera obscura erected on top of the ticket-office, which is being largely patronised at a charge of 3d. . . \ nursery of rative trees and shrubs has been laid out during the .year, into which eight hundred plants of thirty-five varieties were transplanted from the bush. In spite of the change in circumstances, and the difficulty in transplanting native tree,, over 9., per cent, have struck, and will be available for planting the reserves and gardens during this year. .... The question has been raised of making a charge for entrance to the gardens, in order to make the revenue sufficient to cover the cost of maintenance; but the difficulties m the way of collecting such a charge are very serious. . . Pukeroa Park has been maintained at a cost of £20, which has been spent in cleaning the drive and mowing the grass during the year. This is a very valuable reserve and IS not yet by any means appreciated at its full value. The football-ground at the top of the hill is probably ,!,;> most beautifully situated sports-ground in the world, and the park deserves a great deal more attention. It might be made self-supporting if a small stand were built with the necessary dressinc-rooms, seating-accommodation, and conveniences, and a charge of £2 to £5 made tor tin use of the ground, with the right to charge for entry for tin. ten occasions per annum that such charge for entry can be made. , rp . . Nothing has been done in the Kuirau Reserve beyond the clean,ng-up of the paths. Ph« remains one of our most interesting spots for future development, but the demand ,sal present well supplied by the other reserves. ... , • , Ti , , Whakarewarewa Reserve still preserves its charm for both visitors and residents Tt has been 1-er.t in first-class order, several rustic seats erected, and drinking-water hud on tor the convenience o ? virib tt total cost amounting to £180 for the year. Waikite, Pohutu, Keren,, and Papaya Geysers continue to play regularly. Wairoa Geyser has been soaped ten tunes, but has nnlv responded four times during the year. ' Ar kikapakapa Reserve also remains a very useful attraction or future development, but at present its wonders are entirely neglected by the visitors, though they are easily accessible bj a good network of paths. 4—TT. 2.

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Hamurana Reserve is very popular, and the Hamurana Spring is visited by all the tourists making the lake trip. £51 was spent during the year in rebuilding the landing-stage, cleaning the paths, and improving the tea-tent, and £42 in lengthening the wharf, and a revenue of £26 per annum is obtained as rent of the tea-tent. The programme of the launch service only allows visitors one hour here, where several hours might be spent with advantage, and it is hardly worth while developing the reserve any further unless the launch time-table be altered to enable it to be used more effectively. The road from Rotorua (ten miles) has been largely improved by the Beads Department during the year, and is now- in good order, thus bringing the reserve into more general use as a picnic and camping-ground, particularly for fishermen, for which purposes it should become very popular. Okere Reserve is very popular, and deservedly so, but again the present launch service gives the visitor only i ne hour here, which is entirely inadequate to enable him to get to the main points of interest, particularly the lower Tutea Falls and the Trout Pool, or to appreciate the beauties that he has only time to glance at in passing. The Courthouse and post-office grounds have been maintained during the year, for which payment is made by the Departments concerned. Whakarewarewa Maori Pa. Work has been pushed on with the model pa at Whakarewarewa, at a total expenditure of £185 during the year. Two families are now resident in the pa, and the necessary whare puni, or dwelling-houses, wharau, or cook-houses, pataka, or store houses, have been completed. The ceremonial wha'ta, timanga, tiki, ivharetohvnga, and other structures are well in hand; and a small wharerunanga, or carved assembly hall, is almost completed. The town water has been laid on, and the pa will shortly be available for general occupation, when it is expected that a number of Native industries—such as carving, weaving, and plaiting —will be carried on regularly there. It will then serve both as an attraction to the tourist and as a means of preserving these rapidly disappearing arts of the Maori. Baths and Sanatorium. The work of installing the balneological equipment of the new bath buildings, Rotorua, has been carried out under the supervision of the Balneologist, including the acid and alkaline mineralwater pumping plant and reticulation, the town water reticulation, the massage equipment, the electric-light baths and electric-water baths, the Roentgen ray and high frequency apparatus, with the necessary storage battery and motor generator for charging it, the natural vapour and inhalation baths supplied with steam from one of the cones of the Malfroy Geyser at a distance of 200 yards away. A 50-horse-power locomotive type boiler has also been installed for heating the building and supplying the Russian and Turkish baths. A new Spout Bath has been built at Whakarewarewa, at a total cost of £1,200, providing four " spout " or douche baths, one large plunge bath, and three private baths, with necessary offices and conveniences. These supply a want which has been very marked since the old Spout Baths fell into decay. The water is supplied from the same boiling lake, Rotoatamaheke. The pavilion and other bath buildings at Rotorua have been maintained in good order during the year. The sanatorium was extended early in the year by the addition of a wing divided into eight cubicles, with the necessary bath-rooms and conveniences, at a cost of £604. The Rachel water was laid on to heat this ward, and for use in the bath-room. The whole building was painted inside and out during the year, and various improvements effected, which add very largely to the convenience, appearance, and life of the building. Wharves and Lake Services. The wharves and beacons in Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti have been maintained in good order, and a number of additional beacons erected to render the navigation of the lakes more convenient. A number of stumps were removed which were dangerous to launches. The Ohau Channel was kept open for navigation for boats of about 2 ft. draught or less, and a channel cut across the most dangerous bend in its course, rendering its navigation by the larger launches more convenient. Lake Rotoiti is one of our most attractive sights, owing to the beautifully wooded and indented shores of its eastern branch, which is entirely overlooked in the present launch time-table, and there is room here for great improvement in the programme offered to the visitors by the present time-table. Waitomo Caves. The Waitomo and Ruakuri Caves have been maintained in good condition, and a new entrancedoor built to the former. The old accommodation-house, which was adapted from an old and much decayed Maori building, is being replaced by a large building with all necessary modern conveniences, providing eighteen bedrooms, three sitting-rooms, a large dining-room, and post-office accommodation. When completed this will be as comfortable and convenient as any hotel in the Dominion, and should draw an extensive traffic, particularly of week-end visitors from the Auckland District. Twenty-five chains of road and 60 chains of fencing has been completed, and a water-supply and drainage system and electric-lighting plant to supply the house are being installed. Te Aroha Domain. During the year a new tea-house has been built in the Te Aroha Domain, and equipped with all necessary conveniences. A new bowling-green is being laid down, and all the baths and other buildings are being repainted. I have, &c, Lawrence Btrks, B.Sc, A.M.I.C.E.

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APPENDIX IV. REPORT OF RESIDENT OFFICER, TOWN OF ROTORUA. Sin, — Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Rotorua, 23rd June, 1909. I have the honour to report on the municipal administration of the Town of Rotorua for the year ending 31st March, 1909, as follows: — The revenue of the town for the last nine years has been : — £ £ 1901 .. .. .. 1,164 1906 .. .. 4 107 1902 .. .. .. 2,236 1907 .. .. 3963 1903 .. .. .. 3,620 1908 .. .. 5150 1904 3,975 1909 4,756 1905 .. .. .. 4,447 The expenditure for the same period was: — £ £ 1901 .. .. ..904 1906 .. .. 4 500 1902 .. .. .. 1,802 1907 .. .. .. 4128 1903 .. .. .. 3,707 1908 .. .. .. 5,833 1904 .. .. .. 3,708 1909 .. .. .. 4249 1905 .. .. .. 4,447 The expenditure on public works during lira past year shows a great reduction—namely, £2,538, as compared with £4,240 for the previous year, and an average of £3,460 for the previous five years—that is, £922 below the average. This smaller sum has been expended carefully and judiciously, in order to obtain the very best results from the funds available after providing for paying off the overdraft. The works carried out are divisable generally into two classes —namely, permanent improvements and maintenance works. Under the former heading £1,104 has been spent, the major portion of which, in a borough with fuller powers, would probably be met by a loan raised for the purpose. These permanent improvements have all been directed towards giving increased public convenience, and at the same time reducing the future maintenance cost of the town. Permanent Improvements—Streets and Roads. Concrete kerbing has been laid in Hinemoa Street (14 chains), Fenton Street (5 chains), and Tryon Street, Whakarewarewa (3 chains), effecting marked improvements in each case. The work of grading and metalling the Whaka Road was carried on to an important stage, and now meets all the present requirements of the traffic on this road. A considerable amount still remains to be done in order to complete this work, but the completion can now wait without inconvenience until funds are available, after other pressing improvements have been carried out. Tryon Street, from the Geyser Bridge, Whakarewarewa (12 chains), has been metalled with a heavy ballast foundation, and is now, even in midwinter, in first-class condition. The permanent formation of these two roads, over which all the tourist traffic to Whakarewarewa and Waimangu has to pass, constitutes a most important improvement, and removes what was the only serious cause of complaint as to the condition of the roads of the town. bower Tutanekai Street, for a length of 6 chains, forming the approach to the wharf, has been permanently metalled on a ballast foundation, and asphalted. Hinemoa Street, from Hinemaru Street to the Pavilion gates (7 chains), has been similarly treated. These two sections will now carry the traffic for several years without any expenditure for maintenance. Upper Arawa Street, which has been very rough hitherto, was formed and metalled with pumice, and is now in good condition. For these street and road improvements the following material has been used : 582 cubic yards of Te Kuiti limestone and screenings, costing, with freight and cartage, 10s. 6d. per cubic yard; 1,008 cubic yards of local Puarenga stone, costing 4s. 9d. per cubic yard delivered; and about 4,000 cubic yards of pumice gravel, costing from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per cubic yard. The question of storm-water drainage is a pressing one in Rotorua, owing to the flat nature of the ground and the consequent flooding of the side channels after any considerable downpour. Owing to the absence of any powers to raise a loan for the purpose, the matter cannot be dwelt with in any comprehensive manner at present : but the culverts at the heaviest points of flooding have been enlarged and improved during the year in such a way that no serious inconvenience is now suffered. The swamp-area between Ranolf Street and the railway-line has been further improved during the year by the excavation of a drain through its centre on the line of Hinemoa Street. This drain has an average depth of 6 ft. for a length of 32 chains, and will constitute a main drain for the whole area as the drainage scheme is developed. It has already dried the swamp so far that builing operations can now be carried out in any portion of the area. Tree-planting was pushed on energetically during the winter, and the following were planted, namely: 250 willows, ISO acacias, 130 Oriental planes, and 50 oaks, elms, &c. These were distributed largely in the outer suburban areas, and will constitute a pleasing improvement in the appearance of the streets. Eighty tree-guards have been made and fixed, hut, as they are comparatively expensive, only the most valuable trees can be protected in this way. Unfortunately many drivers are vevy careless, and the destruction of a considerable number of trees has resulted from their vehicles being driven over them.

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The effect of these improvements has been to increase the value of the permanent improvements, in addition to the realisable assets, to £12,930, made up as follows : — £ 1,500 chains earth roads, at £2 ... ... ... ... ... 3,000 775 chains pumice roads, at £4 ... ... ... ■■• , ■•• 3,100 40 chains metalled streets, at £20 ... ... ... ... 800 95 chains asphalted streets, at £28 ... .... ... ... 2,660 30 wooden culverts, at £10 ... ... ... ... ... 300 230 chains concrete kerbing, at £2 ss. ... ... ... ... 517 60 yards steel culverts, at £1 ... ... ... ... ... 60 210 chains concrete channelling, at £2 ss. ... ... ... 472 160 chains tarred pavements, at £5 ... ... ... ... 800 Puarenga Bridge, Whakarewarewa ... ... ... ... 220 Alum Creek Bridge ... ... ... ... ... ... 36 Kuirau Bridge, Ohinemutu ... ... .. ... ... 55 Whakarewarewa Road grading ... ... ... ... ... 750 Swamp drainage, 80 chains, at £2 ... ... ... ... 160 £12,930 Fire-prevention. The expenditure on fire-prevention generally has fallen from £154 to £ff7, but of the latter amount £70 was paid in capitation and fees for attendance at fires, as compared with £18 in the previous year under this heading. Isolation Hospital. The maintenance for the Isolation Hospital for the past year has cost £356 for sixteen cases, as compared with £92 for live cases in the previous year. This has been due to the number of indigent cases —mainly Native—which have been sent in for treatment, and which in previous years were treated elsewhere. Although there is power under the Public Health Act to recover the cost of treatment from the patients, and accounts for treatment amounting to £203 have been sent out, it has not been possible to recover any of the amounts, as quite 90 per cent, of the patients are indigent Natives. Maintenance-works. Maintenance-works have cost £1,434 for the year. The most important item is the repair, maintenance, and cleaning of the streets and suburban roads, which have been kept in good condition. The completion of the new water-supply system, with its numerous hydrant plugs, has greatly facilitated the street-watering, and reduced its cost. Owing to the friability of our main roadforming material —viz., pumice gravel—and the consequent dust on windy days in summer, this is a most important consideration, and has received careful attention. Refuse-removal. The house-to-house refuse-collection lias been carried out very satisfactorily by the contractor during the year, and no complaints have been received. Arrangements are being made to extend this service to the Native village of Ohinemutu. Bridges and Culverts. The bridges and culverts iv the town area have received careful attention, and two of the five -viz., the Puarenga Bridge, Whakarewarewa, and the Kuirau Bridge, Ohinemutu —were renewed during the year with heavier timbers, which will make them good for ten years to come. Owing to the extraordinarily corrosive action of the hot mineral fumes, the matter is of special importance in the case of both these bridges. Cemetery. The cemetery has been thoroughly tidied up, the paths crowned and pumiced, a further area cleared and pegged off, and an addition built on to the mortuary chapel, enabling the chapel itself to be reserved for its legitimate purposes. Street-lighting. The street-lighting has previously been supplied by the Government free of charge, but from February last a very reasonable charge—namely, £156 per annum —has been levied against the Town Account. In order to keep down the cost of this street arcs have been replaced by incandescent lamps, with fairly satisfactorily results. Nightsoil Service. The nightsoil service has been carried out very satisfactorily during the year, not a single complaint having been received from the public, constituting an excellent testimony of the care with which it has been performed. The house-to-house inspection has been undertaken systematically by the Inspector of Nuisances, and, as a result, the general health and sanitary condition of the town are excellent.

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Accident Insurance. The expenditure on accident insurance for the staff has been higher than usual, owing to the adjustment to cover the higher wages of the previous financial year; but all reasonable precautions have been taken, and no accidents to the workmen, even of a trivial nature, have occurred. Municipal Administration of Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa Native Villages. Among the important events of the year has been the handing-over to the Department as a municipal authority of the administration in the Native villages of Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa of the powers and functions of the Maori Council. In the past these villages have been in a very dirty and insanitary condition, except on the main tourist thoroughfares, and no control has been exercised over the buildings, a large number of which have fallen into a very dilapidated condition; in fact, there has been an entire absence of the spirit of municipal responsibility among the Natives. In order to meet this difficulty Village Committees (Komiti Marae) were formed in each village, and charged with the powers intrusted to them by the Maori Councils Act. The Rev. F. A. Bennett was appointed Permanent Secretary of these Committees and Sanitary Inspector, and under his direction they are already doing active and excellent work. In addition to the social functions imposed on these Committees by the Maori Councils Act, the necessary cleaning-up and urgent sanitary improvements, as well as a very modest programme of road-formation, has been carried out in each of the villages, which have already effected a marked improvement. Unfortunately, the administration of the villages brings no increase in the municipal revenue beyond a few dog-registration fees and billiard-room licenses, amounting to £12 or £15 per annum, which is less than one-tenth of the barest cost of lighting and cleaning the villages, and funds will therefore not permit of more than the most urgent improvements being put in hand. During the past year the following improvements were carried out : In Whakarewarewa four additional streetlamps, two additional standpipes for public water-supply, 5 chains of new road formation giving access to the back sections of the village, and cleaning and maintenance of the main road. In Ohinemutu and Tarewa villages five new street-lamps, four public standpipes, about 40 chains of 1 in. water-main, and about 15 chains of new road-formation, as well as the general cleaning and tidying up of the village. In conclusion, 1 have to acknowledge the loyal and hearty co-operation of each member of the staff in attaining such excellent results from the year's operations. Yours, tea., Lawrence Birks, B.Sc, A.M.1.C.E., Resident Officer. APPENDIX V. REPORT ON ROTORUA ACCLIMATISATION DISTRICT. Sir, — Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Rotorua, 2nd July, 1909. 1 have the honour to report on the administration of the Rotorua Acclimatisation District for the year ending 31st March, 1909, as follows : — In addition to the area under the control of the Department at the beginning of the year, about 7,500 .square miles, extending 160 miles from Table Cave on the east to the Wanganui River on the west, and 110 miles from Ruapelm mi the south to the Ray of Plenty on the north, the Whakatane County was added to the district during the year, increasing the area by an additional 1,200 square miles. The work carried out during the year has consisted mainly in the hatching and distribution of trout, and ranging the district to prevent the illegal destruction of game. Trout. The hatcher) - on the Waikuta Stream has again proved very successful under Mr. E. F. Rutherford's charge, and the following quantities of eyed ova and fry have been distributed : — Eyed Ova. July 13, Wellington Acclimatisation Society ... ... 70,000 „ 17, Waitaki-Waiimite Acclimatisation Society ... 50,0 0 „ 20, Whangarei Acclimatisation Society ... ... 60,000 25, Wairoa district ... ..." ... ... 100,000 25, Morere ... ... ... ... 50,000 31, Stratford ... ... ... 10,000 31, Wellington ... ... ... ... 10,000 August 21. Morere (Mr. McKain) ... ... ... 55,000 September 6, Wairoa district ... ... ... ... 45,000 450,000

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Trout Fry. August 17, Puarenga Stream ... ... ... ... 50,000 „ 22, Pokaiwhenua Stream ... ... ... 50,000 25, Opuria Lake ... ... ... ... 50,000 25, Okara Lake ... ... ... ... 50,000 „ 25, Tutaeinganga Lake ... ... ... 50.000 26, Wanganui River ... ... ... 100,000 September 4, Ongaruhe ... ... ... ... 100,000 9, Waikato River (Atiamuri) ... ... ... 60,000 11, Tauranga (Mr. Southey) ... ... ... 50,000 „ 11, Mangorewa (Mr. Ashworth) ... ... ... , 25,000 14, Rangitaika River (Te Teko) ... ... ... 50,000 14, Waimana River ... ... ... ... 100,000 14, Whakatane River ... ... ... ... 150,000 23, Mokai (Mr. Riddell) ... ... ... 75,000 October 15, Taringamutu Scream ... ... ... 100,000 „ 15, Rangitaiki River at Galatea ... ... ... 100,000 Total ... ... ... ... 1,160,000 A careful watch was kept during the season on the conditions of diseases of the fish in the lakes, and there is a slight improvement noticeable. The fish were, as is usual, not in very good condition in the beginning of the season, but from January onwards a large number of catches of trout of excellent quality were taken from the lakes. In order to supply additional trout-food, six cans, containing approximately 250,000 fresh water shrimps, were brought up from the Waikato River at Mercer, and liberated among the weed in the shallow portions of the south-east and south-west shores of the lake. It is anticipated thatthese will breed prolifically, and will replace to a large extent the diminshing koura. Red Deer (Gervus elaphus). No further liberations of deer have taken place during the year, but several reports have been received of those presented by Mr. Chirnside and liberated on the northern shores of Lake Rotoiti last year, and apparently the herd is increasing. Pheasants (Phasianus torquatus). Pheasast-shooting has proved satisfactory this season. The bags were not large, but good sport is available for those who are prepared to cover a fair amount of country. Quail. Quail are abundant, and give good sport for the gun in the district. Destruction op Shags. The payment of Is. per head for shags has resulted in the destruction of 1,193 shags during the year. In addition to this, the frequent shooting has driven back the birds to the sea-coast, which is perhaps more important than the actual number destroyed. Birds despatched. Tl*e following consignment of birds have been sent away from the aviary in the Rotorua Gardens during the year: —May, 1908: 3 pairs of grey ducks for Milton Poultry Station. February, 1909: 2 pairs white mallard ducks, 4 mallard drakes, 2 mallard ducks, 2 pairs grey ducks, for Queenstown Park. Active and valuable assistance and co-operation has been received during the year from the Rotorua Rod and Gun Club. I have, <fee, Lawrence Birks, B.Sc, A.M.I.C.E.', Engineer in Charge. APPENDIX VI. REPORT OF RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICER, TE AROHA. Sir, — Tourist and Health Resorts Department, Te Aroha Hot Springs, 21st April, 1909. I have the honour to submit herewith my annual report for the year endin<r 31st March, 1909. Although in two cases you will notice a decrease in revenue, all the other items show a marked increase, which may be looked upon, I think, as very satisfactory, and as indicating a steady increase of business, and thereby the fact that Te Aroha is j-ear by year coining more into public favour.

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The total receipts for the year ending 31st March, 1908, amounted to £1,665 3s. 2d., while those for the year ending 31st March, 1909, amount to £1,751 lis. 3d., an increase of £86 Bs. Id. The baths have been well patronised, especially the public baths, which show an increase of -1,477 baths over the figures of last year. The cold-water swimming-bath, also a public bath, shows a decrease compared with the figures for the previous year. This I attribute to the bath not being opened until the 22nd December, 1908, instead of the Ist November, 1908, so that practically the bath has only been open for four months instead of six mouths. The massage and electric baths have been well patronised during the year, but the electriclight bath has not been in use for want of electric current in the day time. The subjoined tabular statement shows the revenue received under its various heads, and at the same time the previous year's revenue is shown for the purpose of indicating increases or decreases in the different items. Revenue. 1908. 1909. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ a. d. Bath fees ... ... ... 996 12 8 1,096 16 11 Increase 100 4 3 Out-patients' fees ... ... 500 12 6 339 18 6 Decrease 160 14 0 Library fees ... ... ... 911 3 966 Decrease 0 4 9 Players'fees ... ... ... 85 8 9 129 2 3 Increase 43 13 6 Towel fees ... ... ... 15 0 6 17 0 4 Increase 1 19 10 Miscellaneous (rents, phamphlets, 57 17 6 82 2 6 „ 24 5 0 &c.) Tea-house* ... ... ... ... 77 4 3 1,665 3 2 1,751 11 3 Increase in 1909, £86 Bs. Id. Number op Baths taken. The following table shows the number of baths taken in 1909 as compared with 1908: — 1908. 1909. Private ... ... ... 18,187 18,403 Increase of 216 Public ... ... ... 20,669 25,146 „ 4,477 Free ... ... ... Nil. 66 „ 66 Cold-water Swimming-bath. There is not the slightest doubt that if the water in the swimming-bath could by any means be heated it would at once become a most popular bath, and the revenue derived therefrom very materially increased. Works Undertaken during the Year. Buildings. Tea-kiosk. —The most noteworthy improvement to the beauty and utility of the domain has been the erection of a very pretty tea-kiosk, situated on rising ground, and in a commanding position on the south side of the domain overlooking the bowling-green, and a very large portion of the other playing-greens and garden-plots. Grounds. Bowling-green. —The bowling-green has been retimbered with heart of totara. This required attention in order to preserve the levels of the green, as the old supporting rimu timber was rotten and decayed. Macadamised Road, Gart-entrance. —A properly formed macadamised cart-entrance to the domain grounds has been formed from the Wilson Street entrance, at the rear of No. 2 Bath, up to the bath-house. This road was much required for the heavy traffic from time to time necessary in the domain, and has saved considerable expense in the re-formation of other roads and paths much cut up by the traffic necessary before this new road was made. New Asphalt Tennis-courts. —Two new first-class asphalt tennis-courts have been formed on the sulphur permeated grass-plot just below the bowling-green, ami on the south side of the croquetlawn. This is a model spot for tennis-courts, and is handy to the tea-kiosk and drinking-springs, etc. The courts have not yet been opened for play, but 1 anticipate that they will be very considerably patronised when they are, as tennis-playing is very much on the increase in Te Aroha. Cultivation of New Ground. —The rough, unformed large area of ground around the teakiosk has been giaded with nice paths, and ornamented with flower-beds and grass-plots, whilst a pretty artificial lakelet about 33 square feet in area has been formed at the foot of the slope on the south side of the building. A large rose-garden is also in the course of formation. This portion of the domain has been very greatly improved, and now attracts large numbers of visitors. The rough, unformed tract of ground on the slope between No. 2 bath and the massage building has also been graded and sown with grass, whilst pretty flower and grass borders have been formed all the way up the hill. Miniature cascades have been constructed in the creek alongside, and the whole effect is charming, and compels the admiration of visitors. I have, &c, Geo. G. Kenny, M.8., The General Manager, Wellington. Resident Medical Officer. * No tea-house in 1908.

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APPENDIX VII. TAUPO DOMAIN. The following is a report of the operations of the Taupo Domain Board for the year ending 31st December, 1908 : — The work undertaken during the year was the formation of a new footpath along the eastern side of the domain; attention to existing flower-beds and paths, also to bowling and tennis green; erecting a water-trough on roadside of domain and extending water-pipe thereto, with necessary laps. Owing to a landslip, the bath-house received considerable damage, which will necessitate extensive repairs. The roof will also require renewing, having deteriorated through the action of sulphur fumes. The amount standing to the Hoard's credit at the beginning of the year was £7 13s. -'id. The revenue received was £77 7s, (id. The expenditure totalled £29 ss. 9d., leaving a credit balance of £55 fss. Thomas Rtan, Chairman. APPENDIX VIII. EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD. ■ New Plymouth, Ist May, 1909. Tin: past season has been a very successful one, the attendance of visitors showing an increase. Egmont (North) House. —The number of visitors to this house during the past year was about 2,150. During the year a change of caretakers has been made, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan taking up the duties of Mr. and Mrs. Morris, who resigned to take a position in New Plymouth. Bathrooms are now being erected at this house, which will be supplied with water from a concrete tank under course of construction. The stable erected last year has been in constant use, and has been highly appreciated. Arrangements have now been made to have the house connected with New Plymouth by telephone. The committee hope to provide a better-class accommodation ere long, a work that will be much appreciated by visitors. Dawson's Falls (South) House. —The attendance of visitors at this house shows a decided increase this season, the number being about 3,500, the accommodation being taxed to the utmost. An addition of six rooms has been made to the Tourist Cottage, which now provides accommodation for a limited number of tourists equal to any of its class in the Dominion. Application is now being made to have telephone connection with the house, a convenience which is very much wanted. The road to the house is in very good order, as are also the tracks in connection therewith. The buildings, &c, are all in a good state of repair and well cared for, and Mi', and Mrs. St. Clair are still in charge of this house, their capable and efficient management adding much to the popularity of the resort. Stratford (East) House. —This house, having been removed to a lower site on the mountain, opened under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Catenby at the commencement of the season, and, considering the state of the road giving access thereto, the number of visitors—3so—was very satisfactory. The Caretaker reports that visitors aie thoroughly satisfied with the accommodation provided. The committee hope to have the road graded next season, so that visitors will be able to drive right up to the house in all weathers. The bush country in the locality is very fine, and will well repay a visit. Rahatu (West) House. —The past season has been a fairly favourable one, the visitors numbering about 150. The committee intend to further improve the track and house. The majority of visitors went on to Bell's Falls, and speak very highly of the trip. The roads and tracks are under the care of the Roads Department, and the work done during the season is shown on the statement attached. Roads, Tkacks, etc. Stratford House to Egmont House. —3 miles 42 chains of rought bridle-track have been improved and maintained. Upper Egmont. —A further length of 17 chains has been metalled, and a new road made to gravel-pit on south side of the house; on it 6 chains of bushwork and 12J chains of dray-road formation have been done. On the whole, 4 miles 25 chains of dray-road have been maintained. Upper Pembroke. — This road is now open to site of house. The work comprises 7J chains engineering survey, 56 chains of -dray-road formation, 75 chains of bushwork, 80 lineal feet culverts, and 3IA chains ditching; besides the maintenance of 2 miles 71 chains of dray-road and 1 mile 19 chains of bridle-track. Egmont House to Hell's Falls. —On this, (i miles 35 chains of maintenance of rough bridletrack has been done, besides 5 lineal feet of culverts and li chains of ditching. It'ahotu House to Bell's Falls. — 60J chains of new bridle-track have been Formed and 5 miles chains of rough bridle-track maintained. Dawson's Falls.- Under special contract, let to J. Krieger, 40 chains of metalling have been done; 20 chains still remain to be done, but it is doubtful if it can be finished this season. 3 miles 50 chains of dray-road have been maintained. Dawson's Falls to Stratford House. — 1 mile 52 chains of bridle-track have been improved and maintained. Rotokare Domain Road (■£/ for £I). —This is a subside to Eltham County Council, but no work has been done. Frank Simpson, Chairman. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing Q. 900 copies, including maps,, £17 Rs.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o9.

Price 9d.]

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