fl.—2

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Waimangu Round Trip. This service has been maintained satisfactorily throughout the year, the boats having run on 298 days out of the 365. Wharves have been erected at Wairoa and at Otukapuranga, and are in hand at Ariki and Rotomahana, which will add further to the convenience. The launches on Lakes Tarawera and Rotomahana have both been thoroughly overhauled and repainted, the service being carried on meanwhile by means of the old rowing-boats. A new road has been constructed down to the wharves at the Wairoa Landing, and a new track across the Rotomahana Neck is in hand. The track from Otukapuranga to the Waimangu accommodation-house has been maintained and improved. The Roads Department is cutting a new road between these points, which will make the walk considerably easier. The revenue from the trip during the year has amounted to £1,778 and the expenditure to £985, including £150 as a proportion of office-expenses. Oxataina Round Trip. . This trip will be ready in good time for next season. The road from Ruato, on Lake Rotoiti, to the north end of Lake Okataina has been completed by the Roads Department. For a distance of four miles it is available for vehicular traffic, and for the remaining mile down to the lake-shore as a foot-track. The track from Lake Okataina to Lake Tarawera has been formed and graded, and wharves are in hand at each terminus. Fishing, Lake Tarawera. Two rowing-boats and a 30 ft. oil-launch were placed on Lake Tarawera at the beginning of February for the convenience of fishermen, at a total cost of £280, and have proved a great attraction, the revenue for the two months to the end of the financial year having amounted to £58. These conveniences will need to be improved next year to deal with the requirements. Acclimatisation. Acclimatisation matters in the district were taken over by the Department on the Ist February, 1907. The fishing season closed very successfully, the revenue from this source for the two months being £55. Rotorua Town Council. On the 23rd March I was appointed Chairman of the Rotorua Town Council, and have gone fully into the details of municipal control and works of the town. This is involving a great deal of additional work which will not appear in the departmental records, but which will assist in making the place attractive to visitors, and thus in increasing the revenue of the Department. Staff. During the year I have had the most loyal assistance from the members of the staff. Special recognition is due to the Okere power-house staff, and to the office staff for the long hours they have put in when circumstances required it; but all have assisted willingly and eagerly to make a thorough success of the undertakings of the Department. Yours, &c, Lawrence Birks, B.Sc, A.M.1.C.E., A.M.1.E.E., Engineer in Charge. APPENDIX IV. REPORT OF RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICER, TE AROHA. Tourist and Health Resorts Department, Te Aroha Hot Springs, 2nd May, 1907. The General Manager, Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Wellington. Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith my annual report for the year ending the 31st March, 1907. In spite of the drawbacks to the general patronage afforded Te Aroha and the Government baths, due in the first place to the large attendance accorded to the New Zealand International Exhibition at Christchurch, an I, secondly, the fact that this district has suffered practically two floods this season, the first of which very seriously disorganized all traffic and greatly interfered with the movements of tourists and others intending to visit Te Aroha, the result of our returns, however, show but a very small total shrinkage in revenue received for the twelve months —viz.,£loo. The receipts for the year ending the 31st March, 1906, totalled £1,633 4s. 3d., as against £1,533 15s. 9d. for year ending the 31st March, 1907. Under the circumstances, these figures, I think, prove most emphatically that in spite of all counter-attractions Te Aroha has enjoyed a very fair share of public favour. There is a slight decrease in revenue receipts under all heads except that of "out-patients' fees," which shows an increase over the figures of last year.