H.—2.

" The services of honorary lecturers continue to be enthusiastically given, and much of the material necessary for their speeches is provided by the local office. The film and lantern slides used are considered to be of the highest standard of quality. The special posters are also popular and useful for display at exhibitions, in shop-windows, and at railway-stations. Several hundreds of fullplate photographs have been distributed to the photogravure press and to the weekly papers in both Canada and the United States, and have proved of the utmost service in illustrating special articles dealing with New Zealand sport and travel. " Officials in charge of large travel organizations have expressed the highest appreciation of the work of the Department in New Zealand as to the type of folders and general material and publications made available for distribution. Three outstanding organizations, dealing mainly with ocean traffic, have spontaneously written testifying to the improvement in matter and illustrations, to the promptness in service, the assistance rendered in the lecturing field, and by articles submitted to the press, and, in general, to the continued contributions made towards securing increased interest in travel to New Zealand. " The surface of tourist-travel possibilities has hardly been scratched in the North American Continent, but, due to the depression of the last three years, thousands of tourists have restricted their vacations abroad, and take, in the alternative, short holidays within the confines of the United States or Canada. Statistics prove that the Americans are the greatest travellers in the world, and with the return of a now cycle of prosperity we may witness an expansion of tourist business to the South Pacific which will make the growth of the last ten years appear but a stepping-stone to a new era of development." Caretaker, Little Barrier Bird Sanctuary. " The stitch-bird is increasing in numbers. I see them regularly when I enter the dense bush. Other specie of native birds are also on the increase. It is good to find the long-tailed cuckoo and also the shining cuckoo increasing each year. I was pleased to locate the rifleman, which is the smallest of native birds. As usual, scores of bell-birds and tuis are feeding near the house and are very tame. The yellow-fronted, parrakeets, although rare, are certainly increasing in numbers, more so than in former years. The bush-wren are in goodly numbers. They usually feed in the dense bush and are not easily seen. I hear the kiwis calling at the close of the day. They come down near the house nearly every evening. Many come close to the house after darkness sets in. The native pigeons are still in considerable numbers. They feed on the beach on a small sweet grass and seem to like it well and also the puriri-berry which grows on the trees. I shot a wild cat lately close to the house, but have not seen one since." Tourist Acient, Te Aroha. "Bath Buildings, Drinking-fountains, &c. — The bath buildings, drinking-fountains, and pumps have been kept in good order during the year. Fifty cans of No. 15 spring water were sent to Rotorua baths as compared with sixty-two for the previous year. " Gardens and Flaying-areas.—The gardens have been kept up to their usual good standard, the display of flowers and well-kept lawns and playing-areas being much appreciated by visitors and residents alike. " Mount Te Aroha. —The track to the summit of Mount Te Aroha has been kept in good order during the year, and a number of visitors have climbed to the summit. " Games.—The revenue from this source shows an increase of £55 16s. 6d. as compared with the previous year. The amount received for games, £438 Os. Bd., is higher than has been received for many years. Tennis has been popular this past year, and has helped to keep up the revenue from this source. Music in the Domain.—The Te Aroha, Municipal Band rendered a number of programmes in the domain during the year. The Auckland Girls' Brass Band visited Te Aroha during Easter week and played several programmes in the domain. " X-ray Apparatus.-—The X-ray plant has again been of good service during the past year, forty-eight patients having been attended to. The majority of these were accident cases. The portable X-ray apparatus developed a fault in February last, and was taken to Rotorua for overhaul. Fortunately, the defect was only a small one and easily remedied. General.—The general work in connection with the baths, gardens, drinking-fountains, buildings, &c., has been well carried out. A number of improvements have been made in the domain, and nearly all of the buildings have been painted." District Manager, Rotorua. " Buildings.—The outstanding feature in so far as buildings are concerned is the completion of the juvenile portion of the new Blue bath. This building is a reinforced-concrete structure, 88 ft. long and 73 ft. wide, with a pergola 22 ft. deep extending from the southern end. The swimmingpool, which is to be finished with 1 Stourbridge ' glazed fireclay bricks and tiles is 70 ft. long and 36 ft. wide, with a depth varying from 2 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft. 6 in., and a capacity of 70,000 gallons. Surrounding the pool is a 7-ft.-wide floor, in concrete grained plaster, finished and corrugated to prevent slipping. The exterior of the building is finished in " textured plaster," and is designed to give the appearance of old concrete. The lighting ol the accommodation sections is of the ordinary type, but the bath itself is flood-lighted from the roofs, balcony, and pergola. "In the large pool excavations and reinforcing are now complete. It is hoped to have at least the bath portion of the main building complete before next season. " The old Duchess bath building has now been completely fitted up as the departmental store, housing approximately £6,000 worth of stores, varying from copper cable for the electrical section to bath-towels for the baths, and including a special vermin proof compartment for foodstuffs, &c.

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