H.—2

14

The increasing traffic necessitates some improvements being made to the hut accommodation on the track from Te Anau to Milford. At the first stage from Glade House the hut accommodation will meet requirements for some time, but those at the head of Clinton Valley and also near the Sutherland Falls are insufficient. All meals (both for men and women) have to be served in a small hut containing eight beds and where all the men have to sleep. This is very objectionable, especially as women have often to take their meals on making an early start before some of the men are out of bed. The sleeping accommodation has also been considerably overtaxed at the huts. What is now required is two huts, one at each place, for the purpose of serving meals, which could also be used for sleeping accommodation when the other huts fail to meet requirements. An additional hut for tho guides' and trackmen's accommodation is also required. These improvements should be put in hand so as to be completed before next season's Christmas traffic commences. Lake Te Anau. It is most important that the steamer service on this lake should be in the hands of the Government. Just at present visitors to the lake are only seeing a very small portion of this fine sheet of water and surrounding scenery. The private owners cannot see their way to run to the several arms, and thus the best scenery of the lake remains unvisited. Lake Manapouri. The present steamer is not fitted for the requirements of the traffic, and a new boat should be provided by either the Government or private persons for the next season's traffic. Routes to Doubtful and George Sounds. The improvement of the track from Lake Manapouri to Doubtful Sound and the provision of suitable hut accommodation is a work which is very desirable. Nothing, however, can be made of this route until a suitable steamer has been placed on the lake. When this has been done it should become very popular. The distance to be walked is only about one-third of that from Te Anau to Milford, and the scenery is said to be almost equally grand. A boat has been ordered for Lake Hankinson in order to enable those desiring it to make the overland trip to George Sound. Not much traffic is. however, anticipated by this route till there is some regular steam service to the arms of Lake Te Anau. Southland. The Otautau - Manapouri Route. A regular coaching service has now been established between these points, and should do much to increase the Milford Sound overland traffic, the return this way instead of by the same route as the visitors come up proving an attraction. The work of snagging the Pourapourakuio River was completed during the year. The Riverton Borough Council supervised the work. Steam-launches and boats are now enabled to carryvisitors to one of the best beauty-spots in the district. Waiau Ferry. The County Council have discontinued the ferry service at the mouth of the Waiau River, having to maintain the one seven miles further up the river. The Department has therefore arranged to subsidise the ferryman at the former place in order that his services may be available for travellers and fishermen, who visit this place in numbers and require the services of an expert boatman. Stewart Island. A noticeable increase in the number of oversea visitors to Stewart Island was reported during the year. The tracks on the island generally are in good order and much appreciated by visitors. Sanctuaries for Preservation of Avifauna and Flora. Little Barrier Island. This island, which is a sanctuary for native avifauna and flora, has hitherto been administered by the Auckland Institute, but, in accordance with instructions, the Department took it over on the 31st March last. The caretaker, Mr. R, H. Shakespear, who has been employed by the Institute for a number of years, accepted a similar appointment under the Department. The buildings taken over consist of a house of nine rooms, and necessary annexes in the shape of workshop, store-room, &c. . ■ . In addition, the caretaker keeps an oil-launch in order that he may patrol the island independent of weather-conditions. . ' , The Little Barrier Island (Hauturu), the northern sentinel of the Hauraki Gulf, is a densely wooded mountain rising abruptly from the ocean to a height of about 2 400 ft It is distant about forty-five miles from Auckland ; the nearest part of the mainland is Point Rodney, fifteen miles due'west The island is of volcanic origin, and is exceedingly rugged and broken, with several sharp peaks over 2,000 ft. in height, intersected by deep ravines. Most of the coast-line is very precipitous, with lofty perpendicular cliffs of breccia and lava rocks. The island is about four miles in length, and nearly the same in width, with an area of close on 7,000 acres. 1 here is no bay or harbour, and landing has to be effected on the boulder-banks. In rough weather it is not possible to land on the island.