H.—2

14

The model pa which is being built on the site of the old fighting-pa of the Ngati-Tama has been advanced a further stage. The whole of the palisading is now completed, and the interior structures are well ill hand. Care is being taken in proceeding with this work to reproduce the details of an old-time fighting-pa. New Ohataina Round Trip. This new round trip was opened up at the end of December, but so far has not been so well patronised as could be desired. In connection with this trip a new launch, the " Itereinoana," has been placed on bake Tarawera, and the " Patiti," formerly in use on Tarawera, has been moved over to Lake Okataina. A cottage has been erected at Te Wairoa for the driver of the launch on Lake Tarawera. The necessary wharves, roads, and tracks in connection with this trip have been carried out. Electric Lighting. —The electric-lighting system has worked very satisfactorily during the year, and this is very gratifying in view id' the fact that the whole plant has been running overloaded every evening excepting Sundays. During the year the capacity of the generators has been increased from Ml to 95 kilowatts. In addition to this it was found necessary to bring an auxiliary supply into operation for lighting new baths and other buildings. Tenders have been called for the extension of the electric works, ami when this contract has been completed it will be possible to considerably improve the town lighting. Water-supply. —The reticulation in connection with the new system for water-supply has been c pleted, and there is now a pressure of 7<) lb. to 801b. to the square inch throughout the town, as against a pressure of from 20 Ib. to 3,") lb. under the old system. The charges to residents for water have been fixed as follow, viz. : Ordinary domestic supply, bj i in. service, £1 10s. per annum; extra for each hose standard, 10s. per annum; for special services— i.e., over Jin. —byIs. per 1,000 gallons—minimum, £3 per annum. Drainage and Sewerage. —The new drainage system has been completed, and about fifty different premises were connected with the system during the year. The new by-laws for the town will provide for connection of all premises with the sewerage mains to be compulsory. Taranaki. There has been a decided increase in the number of visitors to the Egmont Park for the season under review, the number being 5,100, as against 3,900 for the previous year. The report of the Chairman of the Board appears in the appendices. The Government is being urged by the National Board to provide an up-to-date Mountain House to replace the " shelters " now existing, and which provide a very primitive class of accommodation for visitors. No definite decision has yet been arrived at regarding the request. Tongariro National Park. During the year the control of the above park was vested in the Tongariro National Park Hoard, which consists id' the following: Minister of Lands (as Chairman), Surveyor-General (Thomas Humphries, Esq.), Under-'Secretary for Lands (W. C. Kensington, Esq.), General Manager of Tourist Department (T. E. Donne, Esq.), Director of Geological Surveys (Dr. J. M. Bell), Te Heuheu Tukino, the Commissioner of Crown Lauds, Wellington. Lake Waikaremoana. There has been a great falling-off in the number of visitors to this resort, which can only be accounted for as pointed out in my last report—viz., by the great want of a satisfactory means of communication between Waikaremoana and Rotorua. At present, as already stated, the visitors are almost purely those from the surrounding districts, the distance to be travelled precluding others from making the tour. Of the 176 visitors this season, 170 were from New Zealand, and the remaining six from oversea. The revenue collected amounted to £462 Is. 4d., as against £668 2s. Kid. for the previous year. The angling in the lake this year proved very fair, the average weight of the fish caught being 4 lb. 7 oz. The red deer are reported to be steadily spreading, and numbers have been seen close down under the Panekiri Range. Deer-stalking may therefore lie looked to in the near future as an additional attraction to Waikarenioana's magnificent lake and forest scenery. Te Puia Hot Springs. The accommodation-house at these springs was taken over by the Government on the 11th July, 1907. A great amount of work has been done putting the grounds and surroundings in order, draining, planting, improving and metalling paths, fencing off the baths, and other necessary improvements. A large swimming-bath, 66ft. by 45ft., has also been constructed. A post and telephone office has been opened at Te Puia, which, in addition to proving a convenience to the accommodation-house, is of considerable service to the surrounding district. The revenue collected from the 11th July, 1907, to the 31st March, 1908, amounted to £340 18s. 4d., and the number of visitors totalled 1,040. When the accommodation is improved, Te Puia promises to be a very popular resort for local people residing in the immediately surrounding district and Gisborne. At present, owing to the lack of stabling and paddocking facilities for horses, travellers who would otherwise make a short stay to take advantage of the various baths, are compelled to pass on. Suitable paddocking has now been secured, and plans for a new house are under preparation.