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district by the ranger, and crated and consigned to London, where they arrived in good order. Three of the birds died in transit. Ranging. —The general ranging of the whole district has been attended to. Assistant Ranger Kean has had charge of the Wairoa County in addition to rearing pheasants, while Assistant Ranger Haywood (late ranger for Auckland) has been in charge of the Taupo area. Owing to complaints of poaching at Rotoiti in the close season, a Native was also appointed honorary ranger, while Ranger Cobeldick paid attention to the local areas and gave supervision to the outlying areas, as well as attending the general work connected with the pheasantry and other necessary work required as circumstances arose. Breaches of Game Laws. —Some sixteen cases were taken against offenders during the year for various breaches of the game and fishing laws, and convictions were obtained against fifteen of these, and one was dismissed. Fines totalling £55, and costs £8 195., were inflicted. Thanks are due to Constables Johnson (Tokaanu), Cummings (Whakatane), and Wade (Wairoa) for assistance. Trout-fry Liberation. —The hatching and rearing of 100,000 rainbow-trout ova, and the liberation of them in the Wairoa County waters, was accomplished under the supervision of Assistant Ranger Kean at Nuhaka and Ruakituri ; and the liberation of a further 205,000 fry was made by this Department's ranger and other officers in the Whakatane, Taupo, and Rotoiua Counties by motortruck, and, in spite of bad roads, there was only a small loss in transit. A further 50,000 rainbow ova from Lake Hawea fish were also hatched by the Internal Affairs Department specially for liberation in Rotorua Lake, making a total of 355,000 rainbow fry liberated in the Rotorua Acclimatization District waters for the past year. Rotorua Bath Buildings : Balneologist's Report. Though the year under review shows a slight decrease in general receipts, it has covered a period of valuable service rendered to a wide range of suffering humanity. The falling-off in the receipts was mainly in the first half of the year, when the whole township was suffering from trade depression due to lack of visitors ; also, the Christmas season was a dull one on account of the counter-attraction of the Dunedin Exhibition. However, the past three months have brought an unprecedented number of visitors to Rotorua, with a corresponding increase in revenue to the baths. Apart from the midwinter months, the Sanatorium has more than justified its usefulness, and for some time past I have had a long list of patients awaiting admission. With the continued demands upon this institution I am more forcibly convinced of the need of a better-equipped and more up-to-date establishment, as the present buildings —for the most part inadequate and inconvenient ■ —fall far short of the needs of a modern Sanatorium, and in this respect I would reiterate my remarks in last year's report for your earnest consideration. The general work of maintenance has been carried out, but no new works have been effected. The plans for new buildings —viz., the Blue Bath and Old Pavilion Baths—are still under consideration, and, in the interests of efficiency and the reasonable demands of the general public, these will have to be carried out without undue delay. During the year we have had an increased number of visitors from America and Australia, and the many naval visitors of the American, Japanese, and French fleets will no doubt materially help us in advertising the attractions of our spa. Throughout the year my staff have greatly assisted me in carrying out my work at the bathhouses, and I cannot praise too highly their loyal service and devoted attention to their work. In conclusion I would stress the point that while our treatments and knowledge are keeping step with the latest scientific movements, our buildings and accommodation are far behind the march of progress, and in this respect we shall require a reasonable amount of financial support to bring our establishments into line with the best therapeutic spas of Europe. Waitomo Caves. The cash receipts from the hostel and caves for the year were £8,656 4s. 10d., this amount being £1,554 10s. in excess of the previous year's returns. The increases were made up as follows : Accommodation, £626 2s. 9d. ; guiding fees, £854 lis. 9d. ; equipment, £90 ss. 6d. During the year 10,548 tourists inspected the caves, as against 8,163 for the year 1924-25, an increase of 2,385 visitors. It will thus be seen that the tourist season at Waitomo Caves has been a record one. The paths, fences, and buildings have been maintained during the year, and are in good order and condition. The past year has seen the installation of the hydro-electric power in the caves. The manner in which the Public Works Department carried out this work reflects every credit on the officers concerned, while its execution has won the genuine appreciation of all our visitors. Another work which is nearing completion is the laying-down of the duck-walks through the caves and the remodelling of the stairways. Tourists remark how readily accessible the caves now are because of the improvements which are being carried out in this direction. For the convenience of motorists, two parking areas have been formed, one at the Ruakuri Reserve, the other at Waitomo. These areas will go to fulfil a long-felt want, and it is pleasing to state that every use is being made of them. The excavations for the proposed additions to the hostel are now almost completed, and a start has been made by the contractors on the erection of the staff quarters, fowlhouses, and piggery. These buildings should be finished within a month. Te Aroha. The revenue returns taken from Te Aroha and the baths are practically the same as last year, and a small decrease of £8 is shown in the revenue, though the number of baths has increased. Bath Buildings and Drinking-fountains, <&c.- —The working of these institutions has been carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the usual maintenance work has been attended to. The Cadman Bathhouse is being painted and generally renovated. Early in the season the hot-water tunnel was pat in good repair, this work being carried out by the head bath attendant and one of the gardens

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