H.—2

Statement of Receipts and Payments at Main Resorts.

The following is a summary of the work of the Department at the different resorts under its control Rotorua. Revenue. —The aggregate revenue for this year shows an increase of £4,280-odd over that of the previous year. The increase has principally been derived from the sale of electric energy and the traffic on the round trip. Government Gardens. —-No fresh work in the shape of breaking in any additional area has been undertaken during the year. Mr. Willcox, the head gardener, retired on superannuation as from the 31st March last, after about twenty-three years' service with the Department. His place has been taken by Mr. A. E. Hesketh, formerly departmental head gardener at Te Aroha. One cannot speak too highly of the work of Mr. Willcox at Rotorua. The gardens under his control have been the subject of favourable comment by visitors from all-parts of the world, and the Department suffers a great loss in his retirement. Electrical. —The most important work during the year was the reticulation of Ngongotaha for electrical supply. Although at first the only load offering was domestic and farm load, we have been able to get three fairly large power-consumers —namely, the dairy factory (25 h.p.), Rotoiti Sawmill (72 h.p.), and Hyde's stone-crusher (25 h.p.). Our main supplies during the year have been drawn from Horahora, and the Okere plant has been used for standby and peak reduction. The Okere plant is in quite fair order, and should be able to carry on for some time yet. Extensions have been made to the distribution system as required, and heavier cables have been erected where necessary to cope with the increased load. Maintenance work has been carried out as required for the baths, Sanatorium, gardens, &c., and the car and truck have been operated and maintained in good order. The following figures show the total units purchased from the Public Works Department and the units generated at Okere : —

Peak load for year, 327 k.v.a. (3rd March, 1927) ; connected load for year, 465-63 kw. This is the first year in which the total units have exceeded 1,000,000, and the units show an increase of 28-44 per cent, over last year. Water-supply.—Fifty new consumers were added during the year. 1,900 ft. of | in., 159 ft. of fin., 1,929 ft. of 1 in., 99 ft. of 1J in., and 55 ft. of 1| in. galvanized wrought iron pipe were laid during the year, also 860 ft. of 4 in. cast-iron main. Owing to road-formation work carried on by the Borough Council, and the consequent alteration of levels, the water-mains had to be lowered at various points throughout the town. About 22| chains of protective wire fencing was erected around the reservoir. Thirty-six new concrete fireplug and valve covers were made and supplied during the year. Drainage. —Seven new premises were connected to the sewerage system. A considerable amount of new work was done in connection with the Isolation and King George V Hospitals. Fifteen sewer-vents were fixed at various points throughout the town on behalf of the Public Works Department in connection with the new drainage scheme. The outstanding feature of the year has been

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Year 1926-27. Year 1925-26. fg fl Resort. <d=" S& § ° i «H I i 5 z -f •& o u s S M £ .&■ o t, • S* S ® ° g< d S "3 § § ® ® s g, ° s « g >* 3 "8 g oS» $i>S I t l°- S * «&M goS £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ TeAroha .. .. .. 1,445 3,565 2,120 .. 1,449 3,012 1,563 Rotorua .. .. .. 31,338 33,049 1,711 .. 27,516 32,332 4,816 Rotorua Acclimatization District .. 2,101 1,227 .. 874 2,169 1,257 .. 912 Waitomo Caves .. .. 9,901 4,487 i .. 5,414 8,646 3,993 .. 4,653 Lake House, Waikaremoana .. 1,588 2,006 1 418 .. 1,446 1,525 79 Queenstown .. .. .. 330 915 ' 585 .. 259 8G9 610 Glade House and Milford Track .. 3,635 6,223 2,588 .. 4,251 6,091 1,840 Morere Hot Springs .. .. 464 303 .. 161 444 269 .. 175 Passenger-booking Bureaux .. 8,287 10,400 I 2,113 .. 7,068 7,794 726 I ' ,

Year. Horahora. Okere. Diesel. Total. 1926 .. .. .. 921,900 198,017 .. 1,119,917 1925 .. .. .. 99,770 714,123 58,040 871,933 Increase .. .. .. .. 247,984