II

Revenue. The receipts for the year 1902-3 show at all resorts under control of the Department a satisfactory increase. The total receipts for 1901-2 were £5,490 16s. 10d., and for 1902-3 £8,401 1s.—increase, £2,910 4s. 10d.

Agencies. The establishment of inquiry offices at the principal tourist centres has proved eminently successful. The large number of inquiries as to travel and other matters pertaining to settlement in New Zealand, not only by visitors, but also by residents of the colony, is an indication that such offices are filling a public requirement. Visitors have very freely expressed their appreciation of the value of the services rendered them by the tourist agencies, and many newspapers and magazines published outside New Zealand have offered the opinion that "the establishment of this Department is one of the most progressive actions of the Government." I quote one example extracted from a newspaper published in Sweden :— Tourist Bureaux in New Zealand. A much-appreciated facility which the Government of New Zealand has instituted is the Tourist Bureaux in the larger cities. Here strangers and tourists may go for any information they aesire, free of cost, ana without fear of being sent to any special railway, as in other countries, where people are always working for their own ends. As the Government controls the railways as well, you can get full information without running the risk of being misled by interested agents. The Tourist Department has also printed guides and books, which are obtainable at a very small cost. This is a great assistance to tourists, and is a step in the right direction. In many other foreign papers the Government inquiry offices have been referred to in similar terms of appreciation.

II

1900-1. 1901-2. 1902-3. Inorease on Previous Year. Te Aroha (three £ s. d. .onths). £ s. d. Bath fees Out-patients' fees Tennis-players, &c. £ s. d. 396 12 10 16 5 6 27 4 0 £ 8. d. 440 2 4 440 2 4 Sanatorium patients' fees Out-patients' fees Sale of bath-tickets Water fees Electric-light charges Tennis-players, &c. Eound trip (four months) " Tea house " (three months) Botorua. 668 16 6 419 10 0 1,027 18 5 77 10 0 813 13 480 7 1,522 0 144 5 6 6 4 0 717 3 3 589 10 0 1,874 5 7 132 12 6 544 19 0 47 7 0 565 5 0 144 19 11 36*12 8 2,193 14 11 2,996 19 0 4,616 2 3 1,619 3 3 Accommodation fees (two months) Waikaremoa \a. 66 12 6 66 12 6 Accommodation fees Sale of bath-tickets, &c. ... \anmer Hot Spr, 1,139 19 10 487 6 10 mgs. \ 1,344 552 1 6 2 4 1,200 16 10 790 8 5 Pi 1,627 6 8 1,896 7 6 1,991 5 3 94 17 ! 9 Accommodation fees (three months) ■kaki Accommoda, ... \ion-house. 131 11 0 131 11 I 0 Fees ... '' Hermitagi 358 16 6 ii 597 10 4 914 15 6 317 5 2 Sales, pamphlets, cards, &c. Head Office. 240 12 H .0 240 12 10 Totals 4,179 18 1 5,490 16 10 8,401 1 8 2,910 4 1