H.—2.

Revenue. The receipts for the year 1901-2 show at all resorts under control of this Department an exceedingly satisfactory increase over those of the previous year; the total receipts for 1901-2 being £5,490 16s. 10d., as against £4,179 18s. 1d. for 1900-1, or a gross increase of £1,310 18s. 9d., made up as follows: —

Helensville Hot Spbings. Inquiries are being made with a view to developing the hot mineral springs at Helensville, near Auckland City. The waters of these springs have been analysed for the Department by Professor Pond. Te Aeoha. In connection with the proposed expenditure of £500 advanced to Te Aroha Hot-springs Domain Board by the Department in March, and the proposed further advance of an additional £500 for general improvements, the Inspector of Works at Botorua was sent to Te Aroha to confer with and advise the Board as to the best means of carrying out the necessary new works. The Inspector reports as follows : — I proceeded to Te Aroha according to your instructions, and conferred with the Domain Board re improvements required to be effected, viz.:— 1. Painting all buildings (say, seven) two coats. 2. No. 1 bath building to be renewed and bath altered. 3. No. 4 bath building to be renewed. 4. Laying out grounds at rear of private-bath buildings. 5. Repairing cold swimming-bath. 6. Erecting pavilion for bowling-green. 7. New main entrance (which it is proposed to erect by private subscription). The first six items is a much larger order than can be carried out with the grant of £500. The most important matter, I think, the Board should take into its consideration is that of augmenting the supply of pure thermal water, which often is inadequate to the demand at the new private-bath buildings. The underground concrete conservingtanks, I was informed, are built around the springs, which is a mistake. They should be away and at a lower level, so as to receive all the water that the spring or springs are capable of giving, as when the water is backed up on a spring, or allowed to flow back at a lower temperature, the action of the spring is checked. The Board is endeavouring to obtain the original plans on which the work was carried out, and on receipt of these I may form a better idea of what is to be done to remedy the matter. As soon as time permits I will prepare plans for the Board for buildings to be erected over baths Nos. 1 and 4. The amounts advanced and to be advanced by the Department to the Board will be expended in carrying out, as far as possible, the works outlined in the report of the Inspector of Works. As stated by the Board, it has been found that the subsidy provided for the Medical Officer— viz., £50 —has not proved sufficiently large to induce a competent practitioner to take up his residence permanently at Te Aroha. During a comparatively short period no less than five doctors have endeavoured to establish themselves, but the private practice, added to the Government subsidy of £50, has not proved sufficiently remunerative. I consider that constant changes of medical officers or the total absence of them at these baths operates very greatly to the disadvantage of the baths, and tends to decrease their popularity. I therefore recommend that the subsidy for doctor should be increased to £150 per annum. In accordance with the Board's request, the landscape gardener from Botorua will shortly be sent to Te Aroha to assist the Board in the work of laying out new gardens, and in arranging a scheme for the general improvement of the Domain. The revenue of the Hot-springs Domain Board for the year ending the 31st December, 1901, amounted to £1,007 15s. 9d., as against £1,122 13s. 3d. for the year ending the 31st December..

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1900-1. 1901-2. i Increase. Rotorua. m. £ s. d. Sanatorium accommodation fees ... ... 668 16 6 Out-patients' fees ... ... ... ... 419 10 0 Sale of bath-tickets ... ... ... ... 1,027 18 5 Water fees ... ... ... ... 77 10 0 Tennis, bowls, &c. ... ... ... ... Nil 2.193 14 11 £ s. 668 16 419 10 1,027 18 77 10 Nil d. 6 0 5 0 £ s. d. 813 13 6 480 7 6 1,522 0 4 144 5 0 36 12 8 £ s. d. 144 17 0 60 17 6 494 1 11 66 15 0 36 12 8 2,193 14 11 2,996 19 0 803 4 1 Zi , ±VO ±'± ±1 Hanmer Springs. Accommodation-house fees ... ... ... 1,139 19 10 Sale of bath-tickets ... ... ... ... 487 6 10 1,627 6 8 1,344 552 1 6 2 4 204 1 64 19 4 6 1,896 7 6 269 0 10 The Hermitage, Mount Cook. Hotel accommodation, guide fees, &c. ... ... 358 16 6 Total increase ... 597 10 4 238 13 10 1,310 18 9