13

H.—2

Fairlie - Hermitage Coach Service. This service is not satisfactory. The time taken on the journey is greater than should be necessary, owing to the long stages run. In the whole journey of ninety-six miles only three sets of horses are used. In order to encourage travel to the Alps, which must be considered one of the finest of our resorts, it is desirable to provide more expeditious and cheaper transit than at present. I think with some not very expensive improvements to the roads a motor service might be had to Lake Pukaki. This, with a good oil-launch on the lake, would enable the Hermitage to be reached from Fairlie in one day, and, with the alterations I have suggested in the Pembroke-Pukaki service, reduce the journey from Lake Wanaka to two days. Lake Wakatipu. This deservedly popular resort would, I have no doubt, attract a much larger number of visitors if some of its chief beauty-spots were made more accessible. Some of the finest scenery in New Zealand is to be found in the mountains, valleys, and lakes beyond Glenorchy, to which the means of access are difficult. A vehicle-road from the Dart River to the gorge in the Routeburn Valley is very- much needed. This road could be easily constructed, and would permit a vehicle being taken to within three miles, easy walking-distance, of the huts in the valley. A track is also required from the Harris Falls to the saddle. The huts in the Routeburn Valley have this season been very much improved, and meet requirements. A vehicle-road is also greatly needed to the Lennox Falls in the Rees Valley, and the hut at the foot of Mount Earnslaw requires improving. The most important work in this district is, however, the. opening-up of a route whereby visitors may reach Te Anau from Lake Wakatipu, or vice versa. The country has recently been explored by Messrs. Burley and Reid, and a good route is reported to have been traversed. It is stated that a bridle-track can be made for the greater part of the journey at no great expense, enabling those who can ride to make the journey between the lakes in one day, or two to three days on foot. Such a track would be of great advantage both to Wakatipu and also to the Te Anau - Milford route. I have to recommend that steps be taken to get an estimate of the cost of the suggested track. Visitors would, with such a track open, be able to save two to three days in the trip between the lakes, and at the same time save expense and the monotony of traversing scores of miles over the same ground. Queenstown Domain. The amount of £117 13s. was expended on improvements to the park and esplanade. The administration of the park was handed over by the Borough Council as from the Ist March last, and the area will eventually be legally vested in the Department for administration purposes. A large number of trees were killed by a storm some two years ago, and in consequence a great deal of planting is required. Improvements to playing-greens, <fee, should be taken in hand early. Golf-links at Frankton would prove an attractive feature of the place. There is a good site on the lake-shore where very excellent and picturesque links could be laid down. Southern Lakes and Sounds. Glade House. Considering that the first two months of the season brought very few visitors, it is satisfactory to find that the result as a whole is an increase compared with the previous year. The accommodation fees amounted to £473 3s. 6d., compared with £397 4s. The tents and malthoid huts provided at the beginning of the season for extra accommodation were very useful, but a new house is required. The Department's staff had to work at this place under very undesirable conditions, and it is therefore hoped that the new house, for which tenders have been' called, will be erected in time for the Christmas traffic of next season. With the new track opened up from Wakatipu this house will become an important stopping-place. Te Anau - Milford Sound Track. The traffic for the season shows an advance on the previous year, 275 persons having used the track, compared with 272 for 1903-4. When it is remembered that McKinnon's Pass was under snow at Christmas, the figures show that even under adverse circumstances the impressive scenery of this track claims tourists' attention. The Department tried the use of horses for packing stores to the various huts on the track. The horses did good work and saved considerable labour. lam of opinion, however, that mules would be an improvement on horses for this work. A laro-e shelter-shed and staging for boats was constructed at Sandfly, as well as a new resthut between Milford Sound and Falls Hut. The track at the end of the season was in better order than in previous years. Many small bridges have been erected, replacing old log crossings. It is gratifying to note that bird-life of all species on the track is noticeably increasing since the Department's staff have taken precautions to exclude guns and dogs from the route. The guide in charge has been appointed a ranger, and the Sounds region provisionally gazetted a National Park. Owing to complaints in the matter of guiding-charges, these were abolished, and a track ticket of 3s. 6d. was issued to all tourists. The receipts under this heading amounted to £97 9s. 6d.