10

H.—2

Lake Waikaremoana. There has been a considerable increase in the number of visitors to this resort, but, as previously pointed out, this beautiful lake will not receive the attention it deserves till there is satisfactory means of communication between it and Rotorua. The time taken to reach the lake and the distance to be travelled prohibits other than residents in the district from attempting the journey. The revenue collected during the past year amounted to £668 2s. 10d., as against £409 ss. lOd. for the previous year. Angling has proved one of the leading attractions to the lake. The red-deer herd is reported to be rapidly increasing, and it is only a matter of a few years when good stalking will be available in the vicinity of the lake. During the year, by arrangement with the owners of a private telephone-wire, the Department has had its accommodation-house connected with Frasertown by telephone. Hanmer Springs. This resort has attracted a rather larger number than usual of oversea visitors, but there has been a considerable falling-off of local visitors. In both cases the cause can be attributed to the Exhibition. The receipts'totalled £1,981 14s. Id., as against £1,899 14s. 9d. for the previous year, giving an increase of £81 19s. 4d. There was a slight falling-off in receipts from baths, but an increase in the accommodation-house receipts. A scheme for considerably enlarging and improving the park and gardens has been put in hand, and good progress made. The principal work, however, undertaken at this resort is the new fresh-water system which is being installed by the Public Works Department on behalf of this Department. A number of small but necessary improvements have been carried out in connection with the Spa, baths, tea-house, gardens, &c. The proposal to convert the Spa into a Sanatorium for invalids, with a doctor and nursing staff, has been very adversely criticized by a large number of persons who are in the habit of spending their holidays at this resort. After having considered the matter from all points of view I am of the opinion that it would be unwise to close the Spa, for the reason that to do so would be to unduly limit the accommodation available at Hanmer for visitors, and because the present Spa building is unsuitable as an institution for the treatment of invalids, and would be expensive to maintain as such. I think that the better plan would be to maintain the Spa as a first-class accommodation-house (abolishing the second-class division), and to provide a separate and suitable building for a Sanatorium for the purpose of treating invalids who are able to pay, and indigent patients, under control of a medical man, with qualified nursing assistance. Pukaki House. Owing to the largely increased traffic to the Alps, there has been an increase in the takings at Pukaki House, £653 Is.' 4d. being received, as against £446 17s. for the previous year: increase, £206 4s. 4d. The whole increase is not, however, due to the tourist traffic, but is partly due to accommodation of men employed on road-works in the district. A fairly large quantity'of poultry has been reared and vegetables grown at this place for supplying the Hermitage. Mount Cook Hermitage. The traffic to this resort has exceeded previous records. The change in the means of transport is doubtless largely responsible for this result. During the past season the ninety-seven miles from Fairlie to the Alps was accomplished in one day by means of motor-cars, a journey which hitherto has taken two rather dreary days by coach. The running of the cars has on the whole been very satisfactory, comparatively few delays or breakdowns having occurred. Considerable improvements to the roads are, however, still required to make the trip an absolutely safe one for motor traffic. Over three hundred passengers were carried in the cars between December and April. The receipts for the year from accommodation and guiding amounted to £1,516 Bs. 4d., as against £l",082 9s. Bd. for the previous year, showing an increase of £433 18s Bd. The visitors numbered 304 (of whom 117 were from oversea), as against a total of 185 for the previous YGB.T The Hermitage house, the management of which by Mr. and Mrs. McDonald and family has been praiseworthy, is in a very undesirable condition. It is old and decaying, and the accommodation is now far below requirements. It can be made to provide reasonable comfort for guests for another year at most. To meet traffic for the past season an annexe with twenty beds had to be provided. , With the extra number of visitors, the Alpine guiding has naturally very largely increased. No specially hi°-h ascents were made during the season, but over a hundred persons proceeded to the Malte Bran huts near the head of Tasman Glacier, and a still larger number went as far as the Ball Hut on the same glacier. Five ascents were made of Hochstetter Dome, five ascents of Mount Wakefield, and four crossings of Ball Pass. Sebastopol, Hooker Valley, and other side excursions also drew a fair number of alpinists. Although none of the higher ascents were made from the Hermitage, some good work was done by a party from the West Coast, consisting of Teichelmann, the Rev. — Newton, and Gtiide A. Graham. This party madei the first ascent of Mount Douclas, 10,107 ft., and followed this by climbing Torris Peak, 10,576 ft., Mount Haast, Leudenfeldt, Conway, Alcone, and Glacier Peak, all over 10,000 ft. Chief Guide Graham states that his most interesting trip was one via the Copland Pass to the West Coast, in the company of Professor Spencer and Messrs. Lindbn and Worsley. This party left the Hermitage on the 9th January, and reached Scott's accommodation-house on the West Coast the following day, exceptionally fine weather contributing to make the trip in every way a success. Owing to the increase of visitors, it will be necessary to strengthen the guiding staff for next season.