C.~ 1

112

Baths. The total number of baths for each month under their different headings are as follows : —

The total amount of cash received for bath-fees was £345 4s. 7d. This shows an increase of £54 19s. 10d. over last year, and an increase of 1,809 in the number of baths taken this year. J. Rogers, Caretaker.

APPENDIX No. 9.

MOUNT COOK HERMITAGE AND GLACIERS. Dueing the year Mr. and Mrs. Ross have had charge of the Hermitage. Mr. J. Clark, an experienced alpine climber, was engaged as guide for the season, and most of the visitors availed themselves of his services. The saddle-horses provided for those who wished to ride to the different sights were used by a large number of tourists. A considerable sum of money has been expended in catering for the visitors, in making tracks to glaciers, building hut on the Malte Brun side, about eight miles beyond the Ball Hut ; adding to Ball Hut, improving the road from Pukaki to Mount Cook for coaches and other traffic. A piano was provided during the year, also some new furniture. Visitors. —During the year 105 tourists visited the Hermitage, including His Excellency the Governor (Lord Ranfurly), Lady Ranfurly, Captains Ward and Alexander, the Hon. Hall-Jones, Mrs. Hall-Jones, and Major Steward, M.H.R. The Governor expressed himself as being pleased with the accommodation provided, and the sights visited by the party. The favourite excursions of tourists were the Ball Hut, and Tasman and Hochstetter Glaciers. Coaches. —A well-equipped service of coaches was, under arrangement with the Postal Department, run by Messrs. Kerr and Frayne twice a week from Fairlie to the Hermitage, starting at the beginning of November. It has been suggested that these coaches should start at the beginning of October to enable Australian people to get back home by New Year. Improvements. —The garden near the house has been fenced, dug up, and native shrubs planted. The cattle have been prevented from coming near the house, with the result that the willows on the island and the English trees in the enclosure are flourishing. Cocksfoot was sown over a large portion of the burnt bush, and it is beginning to come on very well. Repairs. —Through a heavy fall of snow during the winter, the spouting round the old building was broken and had to be replaced. The sewage drain was extended 105 ft. with 4 in. ordinary drainpipes. Wooden platforms were erected for the placing of three new tanks, two of which were connected with the gentlemen's bathroom. Two other tanks were connected with the washhouse with 115 ft. of piping, affording a good supply of water to both, being a great convenience and a saving of labour. The roof required to be repaired owing to the severe storms of wind that occurred from time to time. The Hermitage is now in good repair, outside and inside. Camping Parties. —Besides the visitors to the Hermitage, about twenty-three parties camped at Governor's Bush, and at times made use of the Ball Hut, to the inconvenience of some of the Hermitage visitors. To regulate this, permission has now to be obtained from the caretaker of the Hermitage before these parties are allowed the use of the huts, as they are equipped with Government utensils, blankets, furniture, &c. It is rather disappointing that more tourists did not avail themselves of the facilities afforded by the Government to enable them to see the wonders in Mount Cook and the glaciers of the southern alps. The two days' coaching which is now necessary in making the trip from Fairlie which has been complained of by some of the visitors, is really a most interesting experience now becoming rare in New Zealand, Sidney Weetman, Chief Surveyor.

1897-98. Is. 8d. 6d. Free Baths Sanatorium' to People Free Pools, unable to PayTotals. Number of Visitors for Each Month April May June July August September ... October November ... December ... 26 11 13 8 13 11 JO 22 36 10 12 13 650 347 191 158 111 400 680 845 771 1,268 873 1,038 414 297 81 67 45 146 292 269 523 623 189 216 25 3 13 1,117 680 288 233 182 557 982 1,184 1,330 2,084 1,262 1,537 112 77 33 27 21 82 148 172 228 248 167 159 48 January February March 151 156 179 32 32 91 185 7,332 3,162 486 244 11,436 1,474