H.—2

3

Schedule showing Financial Position at each Resort.

Note.—No allowance is made in these figures for interest on capital expenditure or for depreciation of plant or buildings. Return of Receipts. The following table shows the receipts of the Department from all sources since 1911-12 :— 1911-12. 1912-13. 1913-14. 1914-15. 1915-16. 1916-17. 1917-18. 1918-19. ££ £ £ £ £££ Receipts .. 28,048 29,711 30,107 26,630 31,067 33,137 32,935 33,689 The amount of the passenger-bookings at the different agencies during the year amounted to £30,812, as against £35,780 for the previous year. Return of Expenditure. The following is a comparison of the expenditure for the past eight years : — ££ £ ££ £££ Consolidated Fund .. 46,478 45,934 48,462 49,823 47,966 45,785 48,732 53,656 Public Works Fund .. 13,361 12,906 14,989 8,232 5,167 J ,094 967 1,620 The following is a brief summary of the year's operations in the different resorts: — Eotorua. Tourist Season. —The number of visitors to Rotorua showed an appreciable increase over that of the previous year. This was particularly noticeable during the closing quarter. The value of tickets used under the Department's passenger-booking system amounted to £1,233 2s. 3d., an increase of £427 3s. lOd. on the total, of the previous year. Buildings. -The various departmental buildings have had the necessary attention as regards maintenance. The outstanding feature of the year's work has been the erection at Waimangu of a tea-kiosk, 31 ft. by 14 ft., comprising kitchen, tea-room, and bedroom, with a roomy veranda for use of the public during fine weather. The new building takes the place of the one wrecked in the eruption two years ago. The front of the Duchess bath building has been practically renewed. The previous front had become discoloured and decayed through the action of sulphur-fumes coming in contact with an extensive sulphur deposit under the building. Measures have been taken which it is hoped will prevent-a recurrence of this action. Gardens and Reserves. —These have had the necessary attention, although the operations were somewhat delayed through the scarcity of labour and the influenza epidemic. The new tennis-courts at rear of main bath building are now well advanced, having been well ploughed, harrowed, and levelled, and are-now ready for sowing. Some eight hundred loads of clay soil had to be carted on to the ground to impart the necessary firmness to the service areas of the courts. During the month of February an extensive portion of the scrub -area between the main drive and the lake was accidentally burned. It was decided to convert the area through which the fire had passed into a winter sports-ground, and consequently the ground has been cleared and grubbed preparatory to ploughing. There will be sufficient area for a hockey and three football grounds. The necessity for this undertaking was practically forced upon the Department through the Defence Department having taken over Pukeroa Reserve as a military camp, and thus closing the sportsground which formerly was available there. Water and Drainage. —Fourteen new consumers were connected to the water-supply, and nine connections made with the sewage system. During the year about 60 chains of mains running from the old reservoir, through Arikikapakapa Reserve, to Fenton Street were lifted and relaid in the main thoroughfares. The cast-iron mains thus taken up and relaid were in splendid condition,

Year 1918-19. Year 1917-18. Resort. H ° -si | !"Sg- It P 3 «n jS « § P< o fc, 1 ' "'Si s » g 8 o 5.8 ** 3 H j H H +8 a '3 o 6 u a g « S3 U »-. OT cq 43 A, SI'S I' P h S 2 S! 8£ p I Te Arolia Rotorua Rotorua Acclimatization District Waitomo Caves Hanmer Springs Hermitage, Mount Cook Te Anau and Manapouri steamers, Glade House, and Milford Track 1 £ 1,370 17,631 789 3,866 2,272 4,529 849 1,3' 17,6; 7i 3,8( 2,2' 4,51 8' £ £ £ 2,813 1,443 18,349 718 506 .. 283 2,815 .. 1,051 4,097 1,825 i .. 5,370 841 2,188 1,339 £ 1,454 17,256 993 3,596 2,262 1,866 473 £ 2,602 17,001 352 2,754 3,711 5,126 1,932 £ 1,148 1,449 260 1,459 £ 255 641 842 Queenstown ... 158 II 488 330 134 441 307