IT.—2

2

booklets descriptive of the alpine district and Rotorua were republisked, and the Department assisted iv the publication of works by Mr. W. Lawson as follows: " Picton to Cliristelmreli via Kaikoura ; "Across Marble Mountains" (winch is a description of Nelson and Takaka districts); " Rotorua and the Bay of Plentj "; " Mount Egiuoni "; and "The Wonderful Wesl Coast." The expenditure on all resorts has increased from £53,656 to £68,858, a result mainly due to the increased cost of supplies, and the oost-of-liTing increases in salaries of the officers.

Schedule showing Financial Position at Main Resorts.

Return of Receipts. The following table shows Hie receipts of the Department from all sources since 1914-15 : — 1914-15. 1915-16. 1916-17. 1917-18. 1918-19. 1910-20. £ £ £ £ £ £ Receipts ... 26,630 31,067 33,137 32.!):55 33,689 42,218 The amount, of the passenger bookings at the different agencies shows an increase from .£30,812 to £53,369. Return of Expenditure, The following is a comparison of the expenditure for the past six years :— ££££££ Consolidated Fund ... 49,823 47,966 45,785 48,732 53,656 68,858 Public Works Fund ... ... 8,2:52 5,167 I ,()!M i>o7 1.620 6,194 1 give below a short suminarv of the operations of the Deparlmenl in Ihe various places under its control. Rotorua. Tourist Season. —The value of tickets sold exceeds the total of I lie previous year by £6T>O, while the fares and launch hires in connection with the " round trip " show an increase of over £1)00 on the revenue of the previous year. ' Buildings. — The usual maintenance work has been attended to, the principal items being the re-rooting of a large portion of the Pavilion liaiii building and the launch-master's house at Te Wairoa with malt hoi d ; the renovation of departmental residences at Kuirau and Whakarewarewa, the head gardener's residence, and the exterior of the Sanatorium. Various buildings in the gardens have also been repainted, notably the Duchess bath and the bowling pavilion. Gardens and Reserves. —The new grass tennis-courts behind (he main bath building are now in grass, and should be ready for playing next season if the necessary equipment in the form of subdividing the ranges of courts can be provided in lime. A commencement has also been made with the establishment of the asphalt tennis-courts on a. new site, fronting the Queen's drive and opposite the new grass courts. The site has been cleared, excavated, roughly levelled, and prepared for the concrete bed. A new site was necessary owing to the continuous damage done to the asphalt On the present courts by sulphur deposits underneath. The new sports-ground for football and hockey has been cleared, ploughed, disked, and harrowed, and is now ready for sowing in the early spring. A large area formerly in scrub lias been cleared behind the main bath building, and is being used as a nursery- for native plants and shrubs. When sufficiently advanced these will be transplanted to various parts of the gardens. This is in pursuance of a policy of making a greater feature of native flora than has hitherto been done. The boundary-fence around the model pa at Whaknrewarewa is being renewed, special care being given to the palisading of Hie front entrance.

Year 191! )-2O. l° 3 Year 191! 1-19. § l » S S 0J t> S 2 i AS g I R M 05 Kg Resort. a' ' / ,}; ; ' ; ' ' ' ■ ° £ B ffl -p ft t ■4H o £ »i 05 £ o M P-P3 I Te Atbiia : .. ] : .. Rotorua Rotorua Acclimatization District Waitomo Cavos Hanmer Springs Hermitage, Mount Cook Te Anau and Manapouri steamers, Glade House, and Milford Track Queen stown .. £ £ .1,798 3,281 19,245 26,435 1,065 1,043 6,699 3,886 2,327 5,029 5,912 5,918 1,978 2,621 £ 1,483 7,190 £ £ 1,370 17,631 789 3,866 2,272 ■1,529 849 £ 2,813 18,349 506 2,815 4,097 5,370 2,188 £ 1,443 718 £ 22 2,813 283 I ,051 2,779 6 643 I ,825 841 1,339 179 627 448 158 488 330 Note.—No allowance is ma depreciation of plant <>r buildings iilc in these ti^'uvi ■s for i iiilcrcsi on capi tal cxper iditure or for