H.—2

2

granted by the Railway Department, whereby the Tourist Agents can issue straight-out railway tickets, lam hopeful of a still greater increase. The previous system of having to issue a combined rail-and-steamer ticket was found to be cumbersome, and I am grateful to the Railway Department for the concession granted. We may look forward to a heavy season, and the increased accommodation at the various places under the Department's control will enable us to cope with it. These improvements are mainly at Waitomo, Waikaremoana, Mount Cook, Te Anau, and on the Milford Track, and are referred te more specifically under separate headings. Arrangements have been made for the booking of visitors at various hotels and boardinghouses through the Dominion, and this in its infancy, has so far proved popular, and is appreciated by visitors. Oversea tourists to New Zealand numbered 7,365, as against 7,522 the previous year. This slight reduction was undoubtedly due to the maritime trouble in Australia and the infantile-paralysis epidemic.

Statement showing Financial Position at Main Resorts.

Return of Receipts. The following table shows the receipts of the Department from all sources from 1918 to 1925 : — 1918-19. 1919-20. 1920-21. 1921-22. 1922-23. 1923-24. 1924-25. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Receipts .. .. 33,689 42,218 51,038 50,822 40,246 45,704 47,263 Return of Expenditure. The following is a comparison of the expenditure for the past six years : — 1919-20. 1920-21. 1921-22. 1922-23. 1923-24. 1924-25. £ £ £ £ £ £ Consolidated Fund .. .. 68,858 93,720 86,944 59,647 60,445 66,294 Public Works Fund .. .. 6,194 19,041 17,996 5,435 27,264 12,343 The following is a summary of the work of the Department at the different resorts under its control Rotorua. Revenue. —The aggregate total revenue for this year shows an increase of £1,100 over that of the previous year, the increase being chiefly in the revenue from the supply of electrical energy and water. The revenue from the round trip is practically the same as on the previous year, and the value of passenger bookings shows a small increase. But for the inclement weather experienced during the Christmas holiday season, and the travelling restrictions imposed on account of the epidemic of infantile paralysis, the revenue from these two latter sources would doubtless have shown an appreciable advance on the figures of the previous year. Gardens.—During the year the tennis-pavilion, which formerly served players on the lawns in front of the main baths, was moved to the croquet-lawns, and now does duty as a club-house and pavilion for croquet-players, a provision which is highly appreciated. A commodious new tennispavilion has been built in a central position fronting the new grass tennis-courts, east of the main baths. Rooms have been provided for both sexes, and there is ample provision for club meetings. The kitchen-garden and poultry-run provide a good supply of vegetables, fruit, poultry, and eggs for the Sanatorium and King George V Hospital, in pursuance of an arrangement whereby the Health Department bears a share of the maintenance cost. Buildings. —The principal work has been the erection of new tennis-pavilion previously referred to, the removal of the existing pavilion to the croquet-lawns, the entire renovation (including extensive repairs and the installation of a bathroom at the Postmaster Bath cottage) and the erection of twenty-four new dressing-boxes in the women's swimming-bath' iu the pavilion block, A

Year 1924-25. Year 1923-24. » I "i/9 I * I f/0 o 'g g i w o -g g Resort. 6 & 1 o5 ' ® S* S ° §3 g ° §i <2 3 "3 „ <4 -15 ! »5 ft "S ■.& a ® 1 S % ® S •& a S»g 3 a. ° § ,S £ 3 s 8 t)S5 »i>s § g- X5.S goi § g< nftfi go5 P3 HH H pcj SjWW £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ TeAroha .. .. .. 1,451 3,522 2,071 .. 1,568 3,055 1.487 Rotorua .. .. .. 26,911 32,795 5,884 .. 26,041 31,255 5,214 Rotorua Acclimatization District .. 1,945 776 .. 1,169 2,128 751 .. 1,377 Waitomo Caves .. .. 7,100 4,125 .. 2,975 7,280 3,780 .. 3,500 Lake House, Waikaremoana .. 1,305 1,500 195 .. 1,287 1,426 139 Queenstown .. .. .. 207 672 465 .. 222 738 516 Glade House and Te Anau - Milford 2,503 3,418 915 .. 2,101 2,698 597 Track