9

H.—2

The house is in good repair, but will shortly require painting. A boat-shed is now being erected at Lake Waikareiti as protection for the Department's boats at that lake, and a lunch shelter for visitors. The fishing at the lake was good during the season, and is attracting numbers of sportsmen by the fame of its " catches." I am pleased to report that Lake House will shortly be in telephonic communication with Frasertown, the Department having extended the settlers' line from Onepoto to the house. This convenience will be much appreciated by visitors whose stay at the lake is frequently shortened by inability to get into telegraphic communication with their business centres. Morere . During the year some additional fencing was erected as a further protection to the reserve, and improvements were effected at the bath-house by enlarging the swimming-pool. The Government proportion of the bath receipts for the year amounted to £51 7s. 3d. Marlborough Sounds. The improvements in accommodation and the general use of the motor-launch in the Sounds are rapidly increasing the number of visitors to these fine waters. An interesting trip from Picton to Blenheim, Havelock, Crail Bay, Beatrix Sound, and from Elaine Bay to Croixelles, thence to Nelson, was announced last season. FcTx River Caves, near Charleston. Arrangements were made for a local resident to act as caretaker, with the right to make a small charge. The Department expended £25 in flooring these caves. Haupiri Hot Spring. The two-roomed cottage for the use of visitors has been erected and a bath cut out of the rock, at a total cost of £160. Maruia Hot Springs. Further improvements have been effected at this place, a new three-roomed cottage having been erected by the Department, which, with the old huts, enables about twenty persons to be easily accommodated. An amount was expended in improving the means of communication with Maruia. Lakes Kanieri and Mahinapua. The greater portion of the forest land round Lake Kanieri is Crown land, and I would urge that the remaining private interests be acquired and the whole area brought under the Scenery Preservation Act without delay. A small house should be erected on the lake-shores, where visitors could obtain shelter and refreshment. .. New engines have been placed in the motor-launch on this lake by the Westland Acclimatisation Society, towards the cost of which this Department contributed £25. In order to improve access to Lake Mahinapua from Hokitika, it is intended to construct a small lock on the creek to enable boats or launches to reach the lake at any time without regard to tide. South Westland. There is great need of better accommodation on the route to the glaciers from Hokitika. At Wan«anui River a good house should be erected to accommodate at least twenty persons, and at Wataroa River a suitable building where luncheon can be obtained is much needed. The Franz Josef Glacier is certain to become one of the principal attractions on the West Coast, and a good house capable of accommodating about thirty persons should be erected here, borne'provision would have to be made for vehicle traffic from the Waiho River to the glacier, as at present there is only a passenger-bridge across the river. I would recommend the widening of the present road from the river to the glacier to enable a trap service to be established at the proposed glacier house to bring visitors up from the river, where the present coach-road ends. At the Fox Glacier, nineteen miles from the Waiho, a house should be erected on the site of tinpresent Government hut. The track to the Fox is now being widened for vehicular traffic. The three large unbridged rivers—the Mikonui, the Wanganui, and the Wataroa —between Hokitika and the glaciers are at present a serious obstacle to regular traffic. Waiho Hot Springs. The construction of a bath-hut was completed, and further improvements effected by making a clearing and fencing the site. A foot-bridge across the water-race was also erected. It has been decided to replank the Kellery Bridge, and form a foot-track from the springs to the glacier. Haast Pass. The crossing from the mouth of the Haast River to Makarore, at the head of Lake Wanaka, can be done in two days, provided the rivers do not flood. The track, however, is in places in very bad condition, and considerable improvements will have to be effected before the route can be used to any great extent by tourists. The Willis Bridge, which is much decayed, is shortly to be rebuilt. In place of the inconveniently placed Burke Hut, I am of opinion that a comfortable fourroomed hut should be erected on a more suitable site, as a night is spent here on the way over.

2—H. 2.