19

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under arrangement with the Business Men's Association. These concerts have been very successful. The " Besses o' the Barn " Band gave a performance on Sunday, 7th April, which was attended by some 2,500 visitors. Apart from this it has not been possible to arrange for any daylight performances during the year. Whakarewarewa Reserve This has been maintained in good order, and has proved a constant source of attraction to the tourist. Wairoa Geyser was soaped thirty-five times and played twenty-nine times, with an average attendance of three hundred visitors on each occasion. It was quiescent from the 14th October, 1906, to the 17th March, 1907, but on the latter date it responded to the soaping successfully. A rustic bridge has been built across the Purenga Stream from the Whakarewarewa Reserve to the new Maori pa and the Arikikapakapa Reserve. Pukeroa Park. This has been maintained in good order, and the football-ground has been in constant use by the local clubs. A small club-house and pavilion would be of great service here, and would give an ample return on the outlay in the form of rents. Kuirau Reserve. Ordinary maintenance has been carried out on this reserve, but its main attractions, which will prove very valuable in time, are reserved for development in future years. Waitomo Caves. A few necessary repairs have been carried on at the accommodation-house here, and the question of illuminating caves by electricity has been investigated. Te Aroha Domain. The mineral-water-supply system to the baths has been maintained. The Department's coldwater reservoir has been considerably enlarged to provide a reserve in case of a shortage in the town supply. The bowling pavilion has been enlarged and made more convenient. A new gardener's cottage has been erected in the Domain, which will give the head gardener much more direct control and supervision of the ground outside of working-hours. The hot-water tunnel has been relined with totara —a very difficult work, owing to the former lining having decayed entirely, and to the treacherous nature of the ground. Ohakeikorako Reserve. The paths in this reserve have been cleaned and maintained and fresh paths cut where neces•ary. Tokaanu Baths. These baths have been overhauled and repainted. Hamurana Reserve. This reserve has been maintained as required, 2ind is proving an increasing attraction to visitors. A branch from the Tauranga Road to the reserve has just been completed by the Roads Department, thus giving access both by launch and vehicle from Rotorua. A large tea-marquee has been erected as a tea-tent and accommodation-house for anglers, and has increased the popularity of the reserve. Okere Reserve. The paths at Okere have been maintained, a number of sign-posts erected, and other conveniences supplied which will add to the attraction of this popular resort. Wharves and Launch Services, Lake Rotorua. New wharves have been built during the year at Hamurana, Okere, and Te Ngae, and have added very much to the convenience of tourists. The Rotorua wharf has been maintained and improved by the addition of a boat-shed with necessary conveniences. A set of beacons have been erected on the reefs and other shallow spots on the lake as a warning to boats, and the Ohau Channel has been cleared as required to allow the traffic to be maintained. The arrangement of the launch services on the lake, which is in the hands of three private companies, remains in a very unsatisfactory condition, as only the one regular trip is offered—viz., the Hamurana and Okere trip, with a return by coach via Tikitere. This is an excellent trip, but the ordinary time-table takes the visitor over it much too quickly to enable it to be appreciated, and the majority of the beauty-spots of both lakes are visited by very few. An excellent trip was instituted by one of the companies during the summer, covering the whole of the north shore to Lake Rotoiti from Okere to Tapuaeharuru but unfortunately has been discontinued. The departmental revenue from the lake services, including launch licenses, drivers' licenses, and wharfage, has amounted to £105 for the year.