3

H.—2

I am led by reading it to ask you if you will kindly assist me with as full information as possible regarding New Zealand as a place for Anglo-Indian officers to resort to after retirement, thinking that the climate would be more suitable to them after long tropical residenoe than that of England. The principal points upon which I would like to have information are cost of living, house-rent, servants, sport (especially fishing), &o.,.and if you can assist me I shall be greatly obliged. lam a medical man, and might be glad to practise. Are there any restrictions requiring practitioners to hold local diplomas? I hold the M.D. of Cambridge and the College of Surgeons membership of London. Is there any opening for practice, general or consulting ; and is there any reasonable expectations of a newcomer obtaining any public appointment under the Government ? Any information you can give me I shall be very thankful for. Yours, &c. Sijj _ Colombo, Ceylon, 23rd May, 1902. As I see by a oopy of the Canterbury Times, whioh has been sent to me, that reference is permitted to you for the information for intending sojourners in your colony, I venture to ask if you will b) good enough to forward me by post any printed matter you may have giving information likely to be of use to an Anglo-Indian who is on the outlook for a suitable location for retirement. Thanking you in anticipation, I am, &c. The scope of advertising this colony in other lands will be greatly widened as soon as the Department has its own series of photographs. An itinerary showing rail, coach, and steamer movements, with fares, distances, &c, on the principal tourist routes in the colony has been issued, and found to be very useful to travellers. A specimen page is shown hereunder : —

Wellington to Auckland, viâ Wanganui River. (Service, 1st November to 30th April.)

Guide-book. As the guide-books of New Zealand which have been issued are mostly out of print, and those current do not fulfil travellers' requirements, the Department has arranged to purchase from Mr. Baeyertz, Dunedin, at a satisfactory price, a supply of the illustrated guide-book which he has now in the press. In the meantime the necessary information is being obtained to enable the Department to issue its own guide-book. Post-caeds. A preliminary issue of 100,000 coloured post-cards illustrative of New Zealand scenery is being lithographed. These will be ready for sale at a small price very shortly. Lettee-papeb and Envelopes. A supply of choicely illuminated letter-paper and envelopes distinctly typical of this colony is also being prepared for public use. It is expected that these and the scenic post-cards will prove valuable advertising media. Announcements in the New Zealand Press that these are being prepared have already caused a number of inquiries to be made for them. One business firm of Melbourne has asked, for samples of the post-cards, with the object of taking a supply for Photographs. One of the best means of advertising the colony's scenery, wonders, and agricultural, pastoral, and industrial life is generally admitted to be by the aid of photography; but unfortunately the Department has found serious drawbacks in this direction owing to the high prices for copies, the heavy charges asked for the right of reproduction, and especially the difficulty of getting the class of pictures required from professional photographers. Recognising the advantage of being in a position to supply illustrated newspapers, magazines &c, with photographs at small cost to the Department, and without any drawback as to reproduction, also for the illustration of guide-books and the making of lantern-slides, the Department arranged for a series of views to be taken in the North, Middle, and Stewart

From To Miles. Service. Fares. Wellington Wanganui Wanganui Pipiriki 201 150 58 Bail — via Manawatu Gorge,- dep. daily, 8.20 a.m.; arr. 9.6 p.m. Bail — via Wellington and Manawatu Bailway, dep. daily, 7.25 a.m.; arr. 3 p.m. Steamer —dep. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 7 a.m.; arr. same days Steamer —dep. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ; trip occupying two days First, 18s. lOd. ; second, 12s. 7d. ; single. First, 19?. Id. ; second, 12s. 9d. ; single. 15s. return ; 10s. single. Wanganui Pipiriki and upper reaches and return to Pipiriki Waiouru 80 12s. 6d. Pipiriki .. Waiouru .. Tokaanu 41 44 Coach—dep. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. ; arr. 6.30 p.m. Coach—dep. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 7 a.m. ; arr. 2.30 p.m. Steamer—dep. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, connecting with coach from Waiouru Coach—dep. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 7 a.m.; arr. same days Bail — dep. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8.45 a.m.; arr. 5 p.m. Bail — dep. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 8 a.m.; arr. 7.50 p.m. I £2 10s. single ; £4 10s. return. 15s. single; £1 5s. return. Tokaanu .. Taupo 25 Taupo Botorua 56 £1 5s. single ; £2 return. Botorua .. Auckland 171 First, £1 Is. 6d.; second, 14s. 4d.; single. Note.—In all cases where not quoted the return railway fare is double the amount of the single.