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A cooking-range has been provided for use at the main house, and is proving very useful. The money for this has been raised by public donations collected by Mrs. Morriss, wife of the Custodian of the house. The room in which the stove is placed has been floored, lined, and ceiled, adding considerably to the comfort of the house. The question of an increased water-supply, a bath-room, and stable accommodation for horses are matters that must shortly be forced upon our notice for consideration. At the Dawson's Falls (Southern) House the visitors have been more numerous than last season, some 2,200 having made the trip by this route. A very serviceable cottage is a great factor in the increase, and conclusively shows that improved accommodation will attract more visitors. The receipts from fees totalled £70 lis., and expenditure was £54 14s. 7d. At Rahotu (Western) House the number of visitors has been about 100; the receipts from all sources £16 14s. 9d., and expenditure £13 13s. lO^d. The Stratford (East) House has had a floating population, mainly visitors between the North and South Houses, and the small amount of fees had been absorbed by necessary expenditure and upkeep. In fact, now that the system of tracks between the various houses is being inaugurated, the tourist drifts either to the North or South House as a fixed abode, and uses the East and West Houses as stopping-places to inspect objects of interest in the locality and break the journey. Apportionment of the Board's Funds. From rents, £45 18s. 3d.; cattle trespass, £1; Government grant, £200; and a balance from the previous year of £61 15s. 6d. The Board had a credit of £308 13s. 9d. Expenditure, mainly track-work, supplies, insurance, <fee, amounted to £138 Is. 2d., leaving a credit of £170 12s. 7d. Tourist Roads. The undermentioned work has been done for the past year out of tourist votes, granted and expended under the jurisdiction of the District Road Engineer, New Plymouth: — Stratford House to Egmont House. —It is now possible to take horses over four miles of track connecting the houses, 102 chains having been made during this year. A track had to be blasted out of the solid lock for about 15 chains at Manganui Gorge. Expenditure, £270. Upper Egmont. —On 12th January last a contract for 70 chains metalling was let to Bayly and Sole, but by the end of the financial year they only had a tramway (19 chains) done. By the Department 5 chains bush-work were done, 5 chains dray-road were formed, 5J chains metalled, and 335 chains maintained, besides 20 lineal feet culverts constructed. Expenditure, £75 9s. 6d., out of £400. Upper Pembroke. —40 chains bridle-track have been formed, and two miles maintained. One contract, ditching and dray-road formation, is now in progress. Two miles engineering survey were also done. Expenditure £111 4s. 4d., out of £200. Dawson's Falls. —Under contract let to Mapp Bros, on 3rd January last 30 chains road have been reformed and metalled. A short extension of metalling is now in progress. The whole road (three miles and three-quarters) has been maintained. Expenditure, £224 15s. 3d. Dawson's Falls House to Stratford House. —This is now a good bridle-track. Forty chains bush-work and 73 chains bridle-track were completed during the year, and two miles maintained. Expenditure, £149 19s. 10d., out of £150. Manaia (Upper).— -Under grant to Stratford County Council, 35 chains dray-road up to the radius line has been metalled, and 40 lineal feet culverts constructed. Expenditure, £150. Egmont House to Bell's Falls. —Owing principally to unfavourable weather, this track is not yet completed. One hundred chains engineering survey have been done, and two miles track cleared, formed, and maintained. Expenditure, £166 os. lOd. Rahotu House to Bell's Falls. —Owing to unfavourable weather, this track is not yet finished. Two miles and a half engineering survey have been done, and two miles track cleared, formed, and maintained. Expenditure, £158 15s. 6d., out of £250. Works not specially provided for. —A shelter-hut, 18 ft. by 12 ft., with timber framing and malthoid sides and roof, has been built, at an elevation of 4,447 ft., for the use of the workmen and tourists, and for storage of tools. A bridle-track, four miles long, has been cut from Okato, via Saunders Road, to join the Rahotu-Bell's Falls Track near the Moss. I vain Simpson, Chairman. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (2,100 copies), £16 14s.

Authority ; John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o7.

Pric* 9d.]